Chapter 10 - The Deafening Silence
Clara still sat on the wet floorboards.
She looked past the broken glass.
She looked past the massive, trembling legs of the man in the grey suit.
She saw the older man standing tall.
She saw the little boy waving his broken dinosaur from his high chair.
She saw a wall of people, a living barrier constructed entirely of silent indignation.
The heavy-set man swallowed hard.
The thick Adam's apple bobbed painfully against his burgundy tie.
He didn't yell about his steak again.
He didn't point his finger.
He turned around, his movements jerky and uncoordinated.
He grabbed his phone from the table, knocking over his own water glass in his haste.
He didn't bother to fix it.
He ducked his head, his face burning a dark, humiliating crimson.
He pushed past the empty chairs, walking faster and faster toward the exit.
The front door chimed as he shoved it open and disappeared into the night.
The restaurant remained standing.
The older man with the silver hair finally broke the silence.
He stepped around the puddle of red wine, reached down, and offered Clara his hand.
May you like
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Would you like to explore what the little boy says to Clara after she is helped to her feet?
