I dressed carefully, wore the silver earrings Trevor had bought me, and took a table near the window.

A couple at the next table were celebrating an anniversary.

For an instant I felt the familiar pinch of being outside a story I once thought would always be mine.

Then the server brought a warm bread basket, and I ordered salmon without consulting anyone.

I read half a chapter of a novel.

I watched people hurry through the rain.

When dessert arrived with a small candle, I laughed.