Love in Disguise
James tapped the wooden table impatiently, watching condensation gather around his untouched whiskey glass. He listened intently to the low hum of the cafĂ© that blended into the patter of rain against the window. Outside, the amber glow of the city hid behind the curious horde of people, their shadows masked by the night. He glanced at his watch- 7.45 p.m. He sighed, Elise had been late. She had chosen this place for its serenity, unpretentious display of depositions. Here time crawled slower, a thousand whispers resonated within its walls- a perfect place, she vouched, for people who had met over text. They had met over a blind dating app- maybe not met per se but they had exchanged messages—long, meandering texts filled with book recommendations, thoughts on existence, and the shared grief of feeling a little misplaced in the world. James had felt something in their conversations, something rare that he hadn’t felt before- the rush of dopamine was certainly addicting for him. ...