The bread tasted really stale, which was strange because that restaurant was always good about having fresh food. At least Dan thought so. Later, he would consider that perhaps it was the stale relationship that had tainted the bread. His lunch break wasn’t long enough, but on that specific day Dan found himself wishing it was shorter. Jamie had gotten into the habit of droning on about things he found uninteresting and in truth, his only attraction to her by then was that he remembered having liked her in the past. And those memories were quickly fading.

“My secretary made over five hundred copies of the wrong document this morning.”

Dan couldn’t give less of a shit about her secretary if he tried. The entrée wasn’t even out and he felt like it was time for desert. Anything sweet to ease the pain. He ordered another coke. The waitress, who certainly traveled to Uganda and back every time he asked for something, nodded with a frown and left to disappear for another long interval of time, rushing to beat the airport traffic, Dan thought with a smirk.

“Why is that funny? Are you listening to me? Dan, the man is forty-eight years old and he acts like a child. I’m having a fucked-up day and you think it’s funny.”

Dan didn’t think anything was funny anymore when Jamie was talking about it. Jamie’s lack of interest in his own life only made it worse. He couldn’t remember the last time he led a conversation, especially if it had to do with his day at work. It was always about Jamie. And he couldn’t stand it when she swore out loud in a public place like that. It was embarrassing. Furthermore, the hamburger he was nibbling on tasted horrible.

There was a young couple in the corner smiling and making eyes at each other. It occurred to Dan that they were at the very same table at which he and Jamie had shared their first lunch together. They used to make eyes at each other too. The table was probably cursed now. The young couple was destined to break up.

“Dan? Goddamn it, why aren’t you listening to me? We need to have a talk. I wasn’t sure I was going to do this, but now I think it’s necessary.”

Here we go, Dan thought. This always happened. Jamie would tell him he needed to change. He needed to listen. He needed to grow up. Whatever. Dan thought he might have his own things to say when they spoke. Perhaps it was time to end this for good. But truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to escape at that moment. He hated confrontation. The waitress set the check down and he quickly threw some cash on the table and said they could talk that night, before striding out the door of the café.

Back at his office, he felt like he had only just sat down when the phone rang. The caller ID showed Jamie’s work number. He thought about ignoring it, and then he reluctantly picked up the receiver. Jamie was crying. Her father had died.

Dan felt bad because he didn’t feel bad. As usual, it was all about Jamie and he was only irritated more because she had a legitimate reason to be the center of attention this time. But his conscience prevailed and he listened to Jamie and comforted her. He even got out of work early to be with her.

The next few days went by quickly. Arrangements were made. Jamie got plane tickets for her and Dan. Other family members were informed, and Dan made some of the calls himself. It was a stressful process, but in the end he appreciated a break from the monotony of his everyday life. Plus, he’d met her family before and he liked them.

They didn’t speak much on the plane, but it wasn’t an angry silence. From time to time, Jamie glanced over at Dan and caressed his wrist with a smile. He felt like she needed him and he liked that. Once, she got teary-eyed and Dan had to hold her for a few minutes. When they first started going out, she would cry for no reason some times and he would have to cradle her all night. He didn’t like that she was sad but he secretly craved the episodes because he enjoyed taking care of her so much.

It was overcast on the day of the funeral, but it didn’t rain. Everyone that wanted to share stories about Jamie’s dad spoke. Her mother got up and said a few words. Dan, having only met him a couple times, just kept quiet. The ceremony was eventually completed and everyone left flowers, then they began gathering their belongings and heading toward their cars. The sound of the bulldozer burying her father seemed to him to come tactlessly too soon. Jamie wandered off behind some trees and Dan followed her. She was crying. She asked him to hold her.

As Dan cradled Jamie’s shaking body, he felt something he had never felt before. A spark of warmth was growing inside him. At first it was a familiar feeling; it’s how he felt when they had only just started seeing each other. But it grew beyond that. It felt so good that it hurt. Dan felt as though he was, for once in his life, exactly where he was supposed to be. Then Jamie spoke.

“I’m glad you’re here Dan. I really am. I didn’t realize how much I needed you until this happened. You know, it’s funny. That day in the restaurant, I was going to break up with you. I was so fed up. But now I realize what a mistake that would have been. I’m just so glad you’re here. Dan? Dan, are you okay?”

The spark was extinguished and its absence left a hole that sucked in all of Dan’s emotions. He wasn’t sad or angry. He was just nothing. He stood up so abruptly that Jamie nearly slid off the bench. He began walking to the corner of the street. The old cemetery was in the middle of the city so it didn’t take long to hail a cab.

“Dan? Dan, where are you going?”

He ignored her, not because he wanted to, but because it happened like a reflex. She was weeping now, wildly. She began to apologize and to beg him to come back. He told the driver to take him to the airport and he shut the door. The car slowly left Jamie behind and finally, after several blocks, turned onto a side street, cutting off her view of him. He never looked back.