Liam’s hand moved before his brain caught up. He picked up the burger. The warmth seeped through the paper. He took a bite.
He was in a booth. A red vinyl booth, the kind with a crack down the middle that pinches your thigh. Across from him, the table held a tray. And on the tray: a double cheeseburger, wrapped loosely in wax paper, the bottom bun already soaking up a little grease. A medium fries, salted perfectly. A small cup of ketchup, half-squeezed. double cheeseburger, medium fries unblocked
“Because sometimes,” the waitress said, “you just need to sit in a place that doesn’t ask anything of you. No ads. No notifications. No judgment. Just a double cheeseburger, medium fries, and the quiet permission to eat it alone.” Liam’s hand moved before his brain caught up