Asher arrived at the cafeteria on time to meet his date. She settled down at the table, ordered a coffee, and immersed herself in her thoughts while she waited. His mind wandered through the paths of his past, remembering the difficult process of his divorce from Marcelle and his subsequent acceptance of her sexual orientation. Despite having made that important decision, his relationships with other men had not been as satisfactory as he expected. Each encounter seemed to bring with it some peculiarity that left him dissatisfied.

— "I hope this time is different..." —he whispered to himself in frustration, hoping that his date wouldn't turn out to be yet another disappointment.

As time passed, Asher looked impatiently at the time on his watch. His appointment hadn't arrived yet, but he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and wait a little longer. He took another sip of his coffee, trying to calm his nerves as he fought against his natural tendency to distrust.

Finally, he saw someone approach his table and take a seat across from him.

—"You're late, but at least you didn't stand me up"