“My boyfriend and I stopped at this cute cafe while traveling. Accidentally knocked over my coffee, spilling it on his shirt. He yelled, ‘What is wrong with you?!’ People watched.
My face burned with shame. Just then, a waitress arrived. He smiled and continued, ‘Our special today is the warm apple tart with cinnamon cream,’ as if nothing uncomfortable had happened.
His smooth voice sliced through tension like butter. But my lover refused. Scoffing, he snatched a napkin from the table and scrubbed his shirt hard.
His frigid eyes repelled my attempt to help. Though tears sprang, I swallowed them. I didn’t want to cry in front of strangers.
His gaze darted between us as the waiter placed the menu lightly on the table. I wondered if he saw how something so small had grown so enormous. My lover kept grumbling about how clumsy I was despite my apology.
I felt like the floor should engulf me. The waiter returned with two glasses of water and placed them quietly. ‘Accidents happen to everyone,’ he said, moving closer to me.
His kindness almost broke me then. He was thanked in a whisper. My lover rolled his eyes and muttered, ‘Let’s just order and get this over with.’
I tried to grin to act normal.
Inside, my heart was sinking. The rest of the lunch was awkward. He often sighed or answered with one-word answers whenever I started a discussion.
He ate his like he was trying to finish it as I picked at mine. Looking around, I saw an older couple laughing quietly at the adjacent table. Brushing hands and leaning in, they continued.
I wondered how they got there. After decades together, how did they appear so in love? My partner asked, ‘What are you looking at now?’ The folks surrounding us were again drawn to his strong tone.
He was already shaking his head as I swiftly shook mine. He dropped his fork and grumbled about how he should never have agreed to this trip. My chest tightened.
I excused myself to use the restroom to breathe. Inside, I splashed cold water on my face and glanced in the mirror. I had shiny eyes and flushed cheeks.
I reminded myself, ‘It’s just a bad day, not a bad relationship.’ Deep down, I doubted it. When I returned to the dining area, the server stood at our table and nodded encouragingly. My guy started browsing his phone as soon as I sat down.
He didn’t look up or inquire whether I was okay when I seated. He browsed and moaned, eager to leave. The older woman at the table next to us said, ‘Sweetheart, would you like to join us?’ Shocked.
Wide-eyed, my lover looked up. ‘Excuse me?’ he shouted. But she smiled calmly.
‘I’ve seen enough today,’ she remarked calmly but firmly. ‘You don’t deserve this. I stared at my angry lover.
I stared at her, a stranger who was kind to me without knowing me. The tears returned, but I didn’t hold them back. I thanked her but declined.
My partner was paying the bill and standing up. “Let’s go,” he said. The elderly woman seemed sorrowful at me.
Her spouse squeezed her hand. No one spoke as we left the cafe. My boyfriend started yelling outside about how awful that was and how I almost created a scene.