A Soldier’s Solitary Table
The man in the camouflage uniform pressed his thumb against the edge of a small hamburger bun.
He sat alone at a wooden table in the middle of a bustling lunch crowd, completely isolated from the chatter around him.
A single yellow candle flickered from the center of the bread, its flame dancing slightly as patrons walked past his table.
His eyes remained fixed on the tiny light, his shoulders slightly hunched forward under the weight of his heavy jacket.
The name tag on his chest read Roy Harrison, stitched in neat capital letters on the pattern of his uniform.
Nearby, a restaurant employee wearing a black apron stood still, watching him from a few feet away with a soft expression.
The soldier reached up with his right hand and gently tapped the side of the candle, straightening it so it stood upright in the bun.
A Hidden Photograph
He unzipped his left chest pocket, slid two fingers inside, and pulled out a small, creased photograph with bent corners.
He held the paper by its worn edges, staring down at the face of a smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair and kind eyes.
His lips began to tremble, and he quickly brought both palms up to cover his eyes, blocking out the bright dining room.
Behind his hands, his chest rose and fell in rapid, uneven breaths as tears escaped past his fingers.
The employee shifted her weight, looking from the weeping man to the counter across the room, realizing she needed to act.
She walked briskly toward the cash register, picked up a black telephone receiver, and pressed it to her ear.
She spoke quickly into the mouthpiece, gesturing with her free hand as her eyes darted back toward the table where the soldier sat with his head bowed.
The soldier placed the photo back into his pocket, zipped it shut, and stared at the plate once more with his hands folded.
An Unexpected Arrival
He kept his hands clasped tightly together on the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white as he stared at the small, burning candle.
Other diners continued to chat and laugh around him, unaware of the quiet moment unfolding at the small wooden table.
Suddenly, a shadow fell across his table as a woman approached from behind his left shoulder, accompanied by the manager.
She wore a light-colored dress and carried a large, multi-layered chocolate cake glowing with dozens of lit, sparkling candles.
The soldier gasped, his chest expanding rapidly as his hand flew to his collarbone, his mouth opening wide.
He stared at the face of the woman holding the cake, his eyes widening as he recognized her features immediately.
It was the very same woman from the faded photograph he had just tucked into his chest pocket.
She set the large, glowing cake down right next to his single candle and let out a soft laugh.
A Warm Embrace
The soldier pushed himself up from his wooden chair, his knees knocking against the underside of the table.
He threw his arms around her neck, burying his face into her shoulder as she leaned into him.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his back, holding him close as he swayed side to side in the middle of the aisle.
The restaurant manager stood nearby, watching them with a wide smile while folding her hands in front of her apron.
Other diners at nearby tables stopped eating, turning their heads to watch the couple hold each other tightly.
The soldier squeezed her tightly, his hands gripping the fabric of her dress as the candles flickered on the table below them.
Know someone who needs a reminder of the power of reunion today? Send them this.