The unseen presence

The world Is a beautiful symphony of details most that people ignore.

The steady hum of traffic outside his apartment window wasn’t noise to him, it was texture, a pulse of life that painted the rhythm of the city. Each car passing by carried its own unique sound: the sharp rattle of an old engine, the soft whisper of tires on wet asphalt, or the deep growl of a motorcycle weaving through traffic. For him, these were brushstrokes on a canvas, every note adding depth to the picture in his mind. He sat at the edge of his bed, tying the laces of his perfectly polished shoes with precision. His fingers moved deftly, reading the tightness of the knots and the feel of the leather like a craftsman assessing his work. His suits were always tailored to perfection, each fold and crease meticulously managed not because he wanted to impress, but because he valued discipline. Order. Control. If anyone else had been watching, they would’ve been struck first by his face. High cheekbones carved from stone, a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, full lips balanced by a straight, elegant nose, and skin that held the smooth, deep richness of polished mahogany. His eyes, clouded but clear in their own way, were a pale gray against the darker backdrop of his complexion. They didn’t move like most people’s eyes did. They stayed still focused, yet unfocused like pools of calm water undisturbed by ripples.

But he didn’t know any of that. He didn’t know about the way people’s gazes lingered as he passed, or how silence sometimes followed him into a room like a shadow of unspoken admiration. Mirrors meant nothing to him. He had never seen the world reflected back at him. What mattered were the things people couldn’t hide. Like the hesitation in someone’s breath when they lied. The slight shift in temperature when someone leaned in too close. Or the tremble of a heartbeat that betrayed emotions words couldn’t express.

Standing, he reached for his cane a sleek, black piece of carbon fiber. Lightweight. Practical. Unnecessary for movement, but useful for telling others that his blindness wasn’t a weakness. It was just another part of who he was. The world greeted him the same way it always did: not with sights, but with sounds, scents, and sensations layered over one another. The air carried the sharp tang of rain that hadn’t yet fallen, mixed with the distant, warm aroma of roasted coffee beans from the shop across the street. That’s where he was headed today. The bell above the café door jingled as he stepped inside. He didn’t need to ask where the counter was. The rich aroma of ground espresso and the murmur of the barista’s voice guided him like a lighthouse. The chatter around him was low and easy students hunched over laptops, an older couple sharing a quiet conversation in the corner. He could feel their eyes on him. It wasn’t unusual. The attention followed him everywhere, but it didn’t matter. The barista knew his order by heart. “Morning, Elias,” came the warm, familiar voice of Jonah, the man behind the counter. “The usual?” “Yes,” Elias replied, his voice smooth as silk and low like a quiet storm. “And no need for sugar this time.”

Jonah chuckled. “You’ll regret that when you taste the bitterness.” “I’ll take my chances.” He moved to his usual seat by the window an odd choice for someone who couldn’t see the view, but Elias appreciated the warmth of the sunlight on his face, even if the world outside remained cloaked in darkness. That’s when he heard it. A voice. Not directed at him, not even aware of him, but soft—like wind brushing over velvet. It wasn’t the words themselves but the way they were spoken: hesitant, uncertain, yet melodic in their vulnerability. A woman was ordering at the counter. Her voice dipped at the end of her sentences, like she was constantly unsure of herself, and there was a tremor there, a nervous flutter hidden beneath polite confidence. His head tilted slightly, listening closer. There was something fragile about her presence, like a porcelain vase held together by invisible threads. Most people would miss it. They’d focus on the words, not the pauses in between. But Elias didn’t miss the small things. Her breath caught for half a second when the barista asked if she needed help with anything else.

“No, I’m… I’m fine,” she said, though her voice wavered in a way that suggested otherwise.

The scraping of a chair against the floor signaled that she was sitting somewhere nearby. Close enough for him to catch the faintest trace of her perfume jasmine, with a hint of sandalwood. A rare combination. Delicate, yet grounded. He didn’t turn toward her. Didn’t move at all. But in his mind, she was already becoming a part of the room’s composition, an unexpected note in an otherwise predictable melody. And then her breath hitched again. This time, for longer. Was it the sound of him tapping his cane against the floor? The subtle movement of his hand adjusting his cup? No. It was his presence. She had noticed him, just as he had noticed her. But unlike the others, her heartbeat didn’t quicken with admiration or curiosity. It sped up with something closer to fear or perhaps anxiety. That intrigued him. He took a slow sip of his coffee, focusing on the bitter heat blooming across his tongue. He wouldn’t speak to her. Not yet. Instead, he listened. The world might’ve been blind to him, but Elias had learned long ago that most people were blind in their own ways. And this woman… she was hiding something. Something he intended to uncover.