The acceptance
Soup's bland, coffee too strong, and meals lack the flavor I used to savor. The restaurant became my waiting zone, but it took me a million years to wait. For the meals to be flavorful, for the soup to be savory, and for the coffee to be just how I want it to be—not too sweet nor too strong.
So I left the restaurant.
Not with a heavy heart but with the realization that what is gone is gone. I left because I need to accept what was, and I need to move forward to what is, and what will be.
I left my hopes for the chef to come back. It would be foolish to wait for someone like that, it's not like I own him, do I? Maybe the restaurant was not supporting him as much as the new restaurant does. Maybe the restaurant was not as exciting as the new one. Maybe... But one thing's for sure, the chef settled for somewhere new, somewhere I can't enter, and somewhere I'm not used to.
I didn't look back, I didn't check if he was still there. I just left and walked to where I was.
The next day I woke up, drank my coffee, and cooked for myself. In the past, I always ran to the restaurant with the heart of hope that he would serve me again, but now, I wake up and serve myself bread and coffee.
I looked for the recipe for my favorite meal. Slowly, I went through the process, until I finished cooking it. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough. Still, it was as flavorful as the one he served me. The only difference is that I don't need to wait in the restaurant because I know that one day, I will make that dish more savory. After all, it came straight from my own.
So if I ever walk past that restaurant again, I will still be happy that I went in it for the first time, with memories that I won't long but treasure. And if I ever see him in his new restaurant, with his new customers, I will wish him the best. Because at least, he introduced me to a masterpiece—my favorite meal. And at least, I got to experience his kind and warm service.
I can't always hope, I can't wait forever, but I can always try again.
Maybe shortly, I will enter a new restaurant, and be served by a chef who stays, and a chef who settles. I will then be his loyal customer.
