The fluorescent light hums, casting a flat glare across the small counter. A wet porcelain basin catches the slow, rhythmic drip from the faucet, each drop leaving a faint, expanding ring on the dry tile. Beside the basin, a stack of manila forms sits slightly askew, secured by a small pile of paper clips. The person leans close, their focus fixed on a single line of text: "Applicant confirms understanding of Section 4B." With each reading, the black ink on that specific line shifts, darkening marginally, moving from deep charcoal to a faint, bruised indigo. The process is repetitive, driven by the palpable pressure of the incomplete paperwork. The drip continues, marking time against the slow, incremental change in the ink's hue.
hum · uneasy