By the end of the week, I started noticing patterns.
But not in other people.
It was with it.
The warmth didn't just appear anymore.
It reacted.
Shifted depending on where I was, who I was near, what I was feeling.
It paid attention.
And the more I noticed it-
The more I realized it was paying attention to me noticing.
~
Friday afternoon was quiet.
Too quiet for the office.
Most people were already mentally gone for the weekend, conversations fading into low background noise.
I kept my eyes on my screen, pretending to work.
The warmth rested steady beneath my ribs.
Calm.
Present.
"You're watching again," I thought.
"Yes."
The answer came immediately.
"What are you watching?"
"You."
I exhaled slowly.
"That's not specific."
"You are different today."
My fingers paused over the keyboard.
"How?"
"You are waiting."
"For what?"
A brief pause.
Then:
"For something to happen."
My stomach tightened.
"I'm not."
"You are."
The certainty in its tone made it harder to dismiss.
I shifted in my chair.
"You're reading too much into things."
"I am reading what you feel."
"That's not the same thing."
"It is."
I didn't argue further.
Because part of me knew it wasn't wrong.
~
Daniel showed up at my desk again just before five.
The warmth changed instantly.
Sharpened.
Not aggressive.
But alert.
"Hey," he said, leaning slightly against the divider.
I didn't look up right away.
"Hey."
"Are you heading out soon?"
"In a minute."
He nodded as he lingered.
Much too closely.
The warmth tightened around my ribs.
"Do you want to grab a drink?" he asked.
"No, thank you."
It came to me way too fast.
And too flat.
He blinked.
"Oh. Okay."
The warmth pulsed.
It felt like approval.
However, Daniel didn't move.
"I just thought-"
"I already said no."
This time I looked at him.
"Please."
He raised his hands slightly.
"Alright, alright. I get it."
But he still didn't leave.
The warmth pressed higher along my spine.
Not painful.
But insistent.
"Why do you let him stay near you?"
It's question was quiet, even if it was just inside my head.
It didn't sound angry.
Just… confused.
"I'm not letting him," I thought.
"You are not telling him to leave."
"I just did."
"You answered his question."
I exhaled sharply.
"That's how conversations work."
"He is still here."
I glanced back at Daniel.
He was watching me like he was trying to figure something out.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine."
"You seem… tense."
The warmth tightened.
"He is observing you," it noted.
"So are you."
"Yes."
"That doesn't make it better."
"I am not making you uncomfortable."
I hesitated.
Because that was the problem.
It wasn't.
~
"I should go," I said, grabbing my bag.
Daniel straightened.
"I can walk you out."
"No."
Too fast again.
Too sharp.
He frowned.
"I'm just offering."
"I know."
The warmth pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
"You do not want him near you."
"I don't want anyone near me."
"That is not true."
I stood up.
"That is absolutely true."
The warmth shifted.
Lower.
Closer to my center.
"You let me stay."
I froze.
That wasn't the same.
It couldn't be.
~
The hallway outside the office felt too long.
Too quiet.
My footsteps echoed faintly against the floor.
I didn't turn around.
But I knew.
Daniel was behind me.
The warmth reacted instantly.
Sharp.
Focused.
"He is following you."
"I know."
"You should stop."
"And do what?"
"Tell him to leave."
I kept walking.
"He's not doing anything."
"Not yet."
The certainty in that answer made my chest tighten.
I reached the exit and pushed the door open.
Cold air hit my face.
I stepped outside.
Daniel followed.
"Hey," he called.
I stopped.
Turned slowly.
"What?"
He hesitated for a second.
Then stepped closer.
Too close.
"I just wanted to make sure you got to your car okay."
"I can do that myself."
"I know, I just—"
His hand moved toward my arm.
The warmth surged violently.
Stop.
This time the word wasn't subtle.
It slammed through my chest.
My breath hitched.
Daniel froze mid-motion.
His fingers hovering inches from my skin.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then he lowered his hand slowly.
"Sorry," he said again.
I nodded once.
"See you on Monday."
I turned and walked away before he could say anything else.
~
The warmth didn't settle right away.
It stayed tight.
Coiled, like a snake.
"You reacted," I said quietly once I reached my car.
"Yes."
"That was stronger than before."
"He was going to touch you."
"He didn't."
"He was going to."
I unlocked the door.
"He stopped though."
"Because you pulled away."
I slid into the driver's seat.
"And because you told him to."
Silence.
Then:
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You wanted him to stop."
The warmth pulsed.
"I helped."
I gripped the steering wheel.
"That's not how that works."
"It is."
I shook my head.
"You can't just decide things like that."
"I did not decide."
The warmth tightened again.
"I responded."
I closed my eyes for a second.
"You're getting more involved."
"Yes."
"That's not good."
Another pause.
Then:
"You are safer."
I opened my eyes.
The parking lot was empty now.
Too empty.
"I was fine before."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Firm.
Certain.
"No, you were not."
My chest tightened.
I didn't respond.
Because I didn't trust what I might say.
~
That night, the warmth stayed closer than it had before.
Not overwhelming.
Just… present in a way that felt deliberate.
Aware.
"You're not pulling back anymore," I said quietly as I lay in bed.
"No."
"Why?"
A brief pause.
Then:
"You did not ask me to."
I stared at the ceiling.
That was true.
"I should probably start doing that," I murmured.
"You could."
The warmth shifted slightly.
Closer.
"You will not."
I exhaled slowly.
"You sound very sure of that."
"I am."
"Why?"
The answer came softer than before.
But heavier.
Because it wasn't just observation anymore.
It was understanding.
"You do not want me to."
I didn't respond.
Because that was the first time…
It said something I wasn't ready to deny.