A night from the stars

Kendra got out of the taxi, the gentle light of the late afternoon sun illuminating the peaceful street. Grateful that the workday had finally ended, she smiled to herself. As she approached her cozy townhouse, her high heels made a clicking sound on the pavement, excited to relax with a glass of wine after kicking off her shoes. As she was about to grab the door handle, her phone vibrated inside her purse. With a frown on her face, she took it out and noticed Mark's name appeared on the screen. She felt her heart jump momentarily. "Hi, honey!" she replied, her tone cheerful. Mark was not someone who would typically make phone calls during the week, especially not in the middle of a workday. This must have been significant. "Hello, Kendra," Mark's familiar, smooth voice came through, but there was a hint of detachment in his tone today. "Hey, how are you?" she inquired, attempting to rid herself of the discomfort in her stomach. Looking at her front door, she was overcome with a sudden sense of excitement. Is this possibly the answer? Is it possible that Mark is preparing for a major event? "I require your presence at the restaurant," he stated, his voice becoming more affectionate. "You are aware of our usual spot." Kendra felt a surge of excitement in her heart. The restaurant?It had been weeks since they last went there, but it held so many cherished memories from their relationship— their first date, their second anniversary. A feeling of nervous anticipation washed over her. Could tonight be the night she had been waiting for? "Mark said he had a surprise for you." She felt her heart rate increase. For years, she had envisioned this moment, ever since they began their relationship in college. Could it be that after all this time, Mark was going to pop the question? "Absolutely!" she replied, her voice almost squealing. "I will arrive shortly." Kendra instinctively waved at the taxi that had just brought her without any thought. She re-entered the vehicle and promptly provided the driver with the location of their preferred dining spot. She was already thinking quickly. Mark had been distant recently, which she attributed to work stress, but now it all made sense. Planning this moment likely made him feel nervous. The journey to the restaurant seemed to last forever. She envisioned every aspect - his posture, his expression during the proposal, the ring. Oh, that ring! Kendra could almost envision it - a fragile, shimmering diamond, representing all they had created together throughout the years. She felt a rush of excitement causing her hands to tremble as they got closer to the restaurant. When the taxi arrived, Kendra hurriedly paid the driver, barely able to control her excited anticipation. Upon arriving at the sidewalk, she immediately phoned Mark. "Hey, I'm here!" she exclaimed, feeling her heart pounding. "Fantastic," Mark calmly responded. I'm indoors, in my usual spot. "Enter, please." After ending the call, Kendra took a deep breath and fixed her blouse. This was the moment she had been anticipating. Entering the restaurant with a bright smile, she opened the door and walked inside, greeted by the familiar sound of conversations and glasses clinking. The restaurant was bustling as usual, with tables filled by couples and families, while waiters swiftly moved between them. Kendra looked around the room until she found their usual table next to the window. Seeing Mark sitting there made her heart flutter a bit. However, her smile suddenly turned to ice. There was a woman seated in front of him. Not only any woman, but a woman from her workplace. Maya. And they weren't just sitting and chatting casually. They were engaged in a kiss. Not a light kiss on the cheek or a friendly push, but a deep, passionate kiss. They kissed in a manner that left no doubt about their feelings. Kendra found herself unable to catch her breath for a brief moment. She stood still as the world around her turned blurry and hazy. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. *It must be a dream.* "Mark?" she spluttered, her voice barely audible initially. She screamed again. " Mark!" The sound of her voice reverberated across the restaurant, capturing the attention of everyone present. Whispers began to spread around the room as the couple at the neighboring table turned their attention. Mark withdrew from Maya, his face appearing untroubled, seemingly uninterested. "Kendra?" he uttered, the tone of his voice cold and unfeeling, as though he had not recently been discovered kissing another woman. He cleaned his mouth with the back of his hand, as if their kiss wasn't important. "What in the world is happening?" Kendra insisted, her voice quivering with rage and incredulity. With her fists clenched at her sides, she advanced, feeling shock and humiliation in every nerve of her body. Mark lifted his eyes and rose to his feet, extending his hands as if he were handling an irrational child. Kendra, relax. Please do not cause a scene. "An image?" she exclaimed, her voice cracking. "You're being unfaithful to me - in our usual place, no less - and you're asking *me* not to cause a scene?" Mark sighed, frustrated, and ran his hand through his hair. "Hey, just to clarify, I never had feelings for you, alright?" His words cut deeply, like a sharp dagger piercing her heart. I was simply killing time. You were simply convenient, nothing more. At that moment, Kendra's whole world fell apart. His casual words had a huge impact on her. Did all of those years pass by and all of those memories hold no significance for him? She felt as if she had been hit in the stomach, her breath taken away, her heart torn out. She held back her tears, not wanting to cry in front of him or the crowd gathered. However, the pain was too intense, too overpowering. Mark's voice interrupted her train of thought. "Kendra, let's not make this into a big deal. Simply leave with some respect intact. Is leaving an option? What about dignity? Kendra's knees were trembling. She watched with trembling hands the man she had loved for years, the man she had thought she would be with forever. She had faith in him. And at that moment... Kendra ran without saying anything else. As she made her way through the restaurant doors, her heels clacked loudly against the tiled floor, catching her breath as the refreshing evening breeze brushed against her face. She continued running until she reached the middle of the block, with tears running down her cheeks. “I've been a fool, a goddamn fool and I should have known, I should have known.” She whispered, wishing for someone to wake her and tell her it was all a dream, but no, it wasn't.