They sat quietly in the dim restaurant
in the corner
just the two of them
in the candle light.
She picked at her vegetables
her fork in the right hand,
twisting the chain of her
perfectly sparkling pendent
on her long swan like throat
with her left.
He kept looking at his watch
ever so often
head down, but both hands carefully
cutting his steak
each piece being placed
slowly and savoringly
into his mouth.

And as I watched them,
while nibbling on my
wheat bread and butter,
I thought to myself
they act like they have been
married for 40 years.
And I wondered
is this how it is?

They never spoke a word
to each other.
Their eyes never met.
Hands never touched.
Their lips only parting for food.
In complete silence
they just sat
and ate
in their romantic little corner
looking actually tired
and so very, very bored
to be here.

I so wanted to speak up
to break the silence
and pregnant pause
that was so apparent
to everyone else seated around them.

Then the waitress brought them
the check and he paid her.
Placing his wallet into
his breast pocket of his
finely made black jacket
he uttered to her the first words
I had heard him say to her for
the entire meal.
“Are you ready to go?” He inquired.
She merely nodded her head yes
and dabbed at her hardly smudged
lipstick with her soft white big napkin.
They stood up and she patted her hair.
He again looked at his watch,
stood adjusting his coat
and in silence they left
their romantic little corner
just as they had encountered it.

Sadly I found myself feeling so bad
for the two of them
as I watched them leave,
leaving to go
to their prom…


Caryn M. Suarez 04/22/02