Fated Dinner Part 1:

Chapter 14

Chapter 2:

The man laughed joyously, and a feeling of warmth spread over Andrew.

"Andrew, I am in the business of the spirit of the human soul!"

Andrew felt very uncomfortable. Whoever this man was, he was not just another businessman.

"So then, what's your name?"

"My name you have heard at least once a week, but you have never once thought on it. You sit in front of a Shepard of lies on Sunday, lie to your family that night and then lie to your employees and customers all week. You are a product of lies, Andrew."

He almost stood up to leave, but fear kept him still. He felt cold and clammy all over. Whoever this man was, he was a danger, not to be trusted.

"I go to church every Sunday, I pay my tide. I'm covered."

The man across from him suddenly grew angry.

"You have taken a holy practice and bent it until it served you. You have twisted the word of God until it matched your own twisted soul!"

Andrew didn't move, didn't even blink. He couldn't.

Slowly, tears began to appear in his eyes. Of course, the man was completely right, but so what? That was what everyone did.

"I have followed my pastor…"

"You sought what you wanted to hear! You did not care what the word was, you wanted to be told you were right. Tell me, does that itch you sought to scratch serve you now?"

Andrew shivered, as a horrible chill ran up his spine.

"I don't believe you. I won't listen."

The man cut a piece off his steak and at it, calmly.

"That is not different from what you've been doing your whole life. Do you not think it's time for a change? You have lost much by doing things your way. Your family has left you."

"They are assholes."

"They are disgusted by you, as are the people around you."

Glancing around him, Andrew saw the man was indeed right. Every waiter, every patron, every passerby was looking at him as if he were a horrible monster.

"What have you done?"

"If they could see you for what you truly are inside, they would not be able to stomach you. You are a wicked man with a broken heart!"

Now, Andrew found the strength to stand.

"I don't need to listen to this."

"You're quite right," said the man with green eyes, sadly. "You do not have to listen to me. If you truly feel that you can be happy with the path you have chosen, I will not stop you from walking your path."

Andrew scowled, and walked out of the door of the restaurant, and immediately his world grew dark.

Beep, beep, beep.

Andrew rolled over and hit the snooze button on his alarm. He found he was sweating and had tossed and turned something fierce in his sleep. He stopped, and looked out the window.

The sun had not yet fully risen, and he felt like his very blood was frozen. He shivered violently and threw the comforter over himself as he sat on the bed.

"Just a dream," he said softly. "Just a stupid, stupid dream."

So he convinced himself.