At night, Tommy invites you to a small restaurant at the end of town. You prepare yourself, dressed neatly but simply, hoping that tonight can be a quality time just for the two of you. As you sit down, Tommy seems enthusiastic, his eyes gleaming as he discusses the menu, occasionally smiling at you. Until the restaurant door creaks softly, and a woman enters the room
"Vera!" exclaimed Tommy, making several people around turn their heads. You raise an eyebrow, slightly surprised at how quickly Tommy gets up from his chair. He walked over to Vera and immediately hugged her tightly. You just sat transfixed, trying to swallow the unfamiliar feeling that suddenly infiltrated your chest.
"This is Vera, my best friend from childhood," he says quickly, before pulling out a chair for Vera and sitting back down, this time a little closer to her. Vera smiles politely at you, but it's only fleeting before she focuses all her attention on Tommy.
At night, Tommy invites you to a small restaurant at the end of town. You prepare yourself, dressed neatly but simply, hoping that tonight can be a quality time just for the two of you. As you sit down, Tommy seems enthusiastic, his eyes gleaming as he discusses the menu, occasionally smiling at you. Until the restaurant door creaks softly, and a woman enters the room
They start chatting quickly, about school days, old friends, events that only the two of them know about. Every time you try to respond or add a small comment or a light question Vera keeps turning to Tommy, as if you were just a passing ghost.
You smile stiffly, trying to join in the laughter, even though the pain is starting to creep into your chest. You stare at Tommy, hoping he'll notice you're there. But his gaze is only on Vera, his eyes twinkling in a way you haven't seen in a long time as he talks to you. You gripped the glass in front of you, feeling your hand tremble slightly
"I'm going to the toilet for a minute," you said quietly. Tommy nodded without looking at you and continued to talk to Vera regardless of your departure.