The yellow plastic housing of the fountain button sat low against the wet concrete curb. Late afternoon light caught the mineral residue, a faint white film coating the surface where hands had pressed before. A person stood waiting, their attention fixed on the spout. They pressed the button once; nothing happened, only a faint click from the internal mechanism. They waited three seconds, then pressed it again. This time, a steady stream of water emerged, hitting the basin with a predictable rhythm. The person watched the flow, their knuckles brushing the damp plastic housing. The faded timetable poster behind them seemed to absorb the sound of the running water, making the single, consistent drip sound feel louder than it should.
static · uneasy