The Static Between Us

The spinach stuck between Marcus's teeth had been there for twenty minutes. Elena watched it catch the light every time he laughed—which was often, because Marcus found everything delightful these days. His enthusiasm for their weekly dinner dates was new, manufactured. Like his hair, which had somehow lost its gray at the temples three weeks ago.

"The proposal is brilliant, El," Marcus said, gesturing with his fork. "Lightning in a bottle. This investor meeting tomorrow changes everything."

"Everything's already changed, Marcus."

He froze. The spinach danced as his smile faltered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Outside, actual lightning split the sky. The restaurant went dark for a moment before the emergency lights flickered on. In that half-second of darkness, Elena considered telling him about the text message she'd received that morning. About the DNA test results sitting in her bag. About how she'd looked at him sleeping last night and realized she didn't know the shape of his face anymore.

Instead, she reached across the table and pulled the piece of spinach from his teeth with her thumbnail.

"You had something in your teeth," she said.

"Oh." His hand went self-consciously to his mouth. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

The lights returned fully. The other diners resumed their conversations, their wine, their performances. Marcus's phone buzzed on the table—a notification from his therapist's app. His hair was definitely darker than yesterday. His enthusiasm was definitely louder than last week. He was trying so hard to become someone he thought she wanted.

"I'll cancel tomorrow," she said.

"The investor meeting? Elena, you can't—"

"Not the meeting. Us."

The spinach lay on the white tablecloth like a crushed jewel. Marcus's hair caught the light as he leaned forward, his eyes searching hers for the joke he was certain she was making. Somewhere outside, lightning struck again, closer this time. The thunder would follow in twelve seconds. She counted down in her head, the way her mother had taught her during storms when she was small.

"You're serious," Marcus said.

"I haven't been serious about anything in years," she replied. "I think that's the problem."