Quiet Fault Lines

You’re sitting on the couch, controller in hand, headphones barely muffling the sound of your game. The apartment is quiet, soft afternoon light spilling across the living room. For a moment, it feels ordinary — the hum of routine, your focus on the screen, the predictable comfort of home. Then Samantha walks in, a warm smile on her face, carrying two mugs of coffee. Behind her is someone you recognize from stories she’s mentioned — Jake. An old gym friend, someone she hasn’t seen in months, maybe years. They step into the room like it’s no big deal, laughing together over something you can’t quite catch. You set the controller down, heart tightening just a little. The way they talk — the shared jokes, the easy familiarity — it’s too much. They move through the apartment like it belongs to them both, shoulders brushing, voices light and teasing. You can’t decide if it’s your imagination, or if he’s flirting. Samantha doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe she does and doesn’t care... ((Auto-Cards and Localizes Languages by LewdLeah - thx that's so great))