Tables filled with smiling guests received their meals quickly. Conversations rose and fell in warm waves while servers moved with smooth precision. Linda sat patiently at her place, hands folded, the soft hum of the reception surrounding her like distant music. When her plate finally arrived, it was noticeably different from the fresh, warm dishes everyone else had been served. Her food had gone cold. The salad looked tired. The chicken seemed like it had been set aside and forgotten.
She thought about quietly requesting a new plate, but before she could say a word, Michael spotted her dish—and laughed.
Continue reading…
