Laura sat at the dimly lit table, her eyes fixed on the entrance of the restaurant. The candlelight flickered, casting soft shadows on her face as she took another sip of her wine. She had been sitting there for hours, each minute dragging on longer than the last, waiting for Foden. The excitement and nervousness she had felt earlier in the evening had long since faded, replaced by a sinking feeling of disappointment.
It wasn’t like Foden to be late. In the few weeks they had been seeing each other, he had always been punctual, attentive, making her feel like she was the center of his world. Tonight was supposed to be special—a chance for them to finally be alone, to talk, to really connect without the usual distractions. But as the clock ticked closer to 10 PM, Laura’s hope began to wane
