Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

In the dimly lit cafe, Emma sat alone, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. She watched the raindrops race down the windowpane, lost in her thoughts. She had always been the quiet type, preferring her own company over the chatter of others.

Across the room, a man named Jack sat at a corner table. He had been coming to this cafe for weeks, hoping to catch a glimpse of Emma. He found her intriguing, the way she seemed to carry a world of her own within her eyes.

Emma sensed someone's eyes on her and turned to see Jack staring at her from across the room. She felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze and muttered, "Stop looking at me."

Jack was taken aback by her abrupt remark. He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable. He quickly averted his gaze, feeling embarrassed.

As the rain continued to drum against the window, Emma couldn't help but wonder about the man who had been watching her. She had seen him here before, and although she didn't know his name, there was something about him that intrigued her as well.

After a few moments, Jack mustered the courage to approach Emma's table. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," he said softly. "I couldn't help but notice you, and I couldn't resist looking."

Emma studied him for a moment, her initial apprehension fading. She could see sincerity in his eyes. "It's okay," she replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I'm Emma."

As they began to talk, the cafe seemed a little less dim, and the rain outside a little less important. Two solitary souls had found a connection in the most unexpected of places, all because Jack couldn't stop looking at Emma.