he chews on his toothpick and stares out the window
she picks at her dinner with her head down and shoulders slouched
he eats nothing
they both wear only black
it snows outside
he's watching it
her painted red nails hold the plastic fork
picking up her salad
some form of post-coital pleasure perhaps
they say nothing
he slouches now
as she scrapes the bottom of her plastic bowl,
she picks out the round cherry tomatoes.
he doesn't blink.
she opens her mouth... chewing.
he turns to fix his pants... rubbing his nose
anything.
she picks something else out of her salad
he shifts and watches the pudgy man clean
her hair is in a lose ponytail and some stray locks frame her face
she wears no make-up, no jewellry
he wears earrings
rubs nose
chews
their feet don't touch under the table
tiny bags circle her eyes when she looks up
she mutters, he forces a laugh
then distraction again from the pudgy man
she takes the two tomatoes and breaks them open one at a time
leaves them there
cleans her hands with the yellow napkin
her head rests in her hands
his hands are clasped
her eyes can't find a home
they both look at the same spot out the window.
with a nod, he cleans her tray. she looks cold.
they get up to leave
and he carries her drink.