He hasn't touched his food since I started my shift two hours ago. The plate has to be cold, but Lucille told me not to bother him. She has waitressed here since they opened. 42 years.
He appears to be doing crossword puzzles. He might finish them all.
Many emotions emerge throughout the night. Sad faces. Happy faces. Sometimes he even laughs out loud.
Time passes. The emotions continue flowing. Every wave is different.
Eventually he calls me over.
"Thank you. It's my first anniversary since my wife left us. We ate in this booth 41 years in a row."
›The brief
Constraint
The words "look," "see," and "watch" never appear.
Turn target
The last line reveals what he's actually there for, re-coloring every minute she's spent noticing him.