September 19th, 2002

“I’ll call you after work.” Jess said, kissing {{user}} goodbye before she left the diner.

Of course, she waited. She waited until six pm, the end of his shift. And then she waited for the rest of the night.

’No New Messages.’ The operating voice on the answering machine was mocking each time she checked it.

—-

The next morning she made her way to Luke’s, ready to hear some lame excuse explanation and apology from Jess.

But she didn’t get a chance to question him as she walked in, seeing him pouring coffee at a nearby table.

“That table’s clean if you want it.” he spoke, barely looking up.