The night was young and the sky was gray. Rain appeared to be on the horizon but it was too soon to tell. She couldn't wait to arrive at the dinner party. It had been so many years since she'd seen his face. So many thoughts raced through her mind. What did he look like after all these years? Would he still remember the past?

The car came to an abrupt stop. Her black wedged shoes hit the pavement with a click clack sound that she hoped to silence as she walked near the door. Her lipstick felt heavy. Red and matte, she found it on sale and purchased it specifically for this event.

She wondered how she would feel once this encounter was over. Being down on herself was a habit she was trying to break. It was the by product of so many broken promises from her past. She probed her internal voice and told herself things would work out fine.

As she entered the restaurant she was in awe of the ambience. Hushed voices, intimate encounters, the soft clinging of forks and knives. Looks of love and celebrations of special occasions draped the atmosphere. She gently lifted her head to survey every inch of the scene.

Her scan provided no result. After checking in, she decided to wait in the lobby. A quick brush over her lips with her hand removed the smudges of lipstick in the corners of her mouth. Her mouth was dry and her stomach felt weak. She rehearsed what she would say praying she wouldn't stumble over her words.

Shortly thereafter, he walked in.