Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Who is that man?

Why isn’t he dressed better?

Doesn’t he know this is a suits and dresses only

Kind of establishment?

Who is that man,

Fidgeting and

Sitting anxiously?

Who is he waiting for?

Who did he deem good enough for this place?

And why didn’t they come?

He looks so anxious.

I feel bad for him.

He’s muttering now,

Under his breath.

I wish I could go on break,

Sit next to him

Talk to him instead of him being alone.

The hostess whispered to me

He was stood up.

I contain the rage inside me

He looks so helpless

He looks so sweet

Like the kind of man my grandmother would pinch the cheeks of

And call “sweetie”.

“Artemis”

Who is that woman?

He doesn’t deserve her.

Not from where I stand

I take another couple’s orders

To stop myself from calling her a bitch.

He’s leaving now,

left some money on the table

He didn’t order anything

And he looks like he will cry

I finish my shift

I cant stop thinking of that man

Probably waited for months for that reservation

Simply for her never to show up.

I sit on my couch

I call my girlfriend

The man leaves my mind.

Chapter Text

Who is that man?

Sitting with that little girl?

They both look like teenagers

Albeit colour blind and

Dress-code blind teenagers

They laugh together

And it strikes me who this man is

The one who was stood up

He didn’t look quite as young before

But its the same man

He looks happy

A smile graces his face

They’re talking about the music

His arms swing around

Something out of place in this restaurant

It brings a smile to my face

Amongst these old frowning faces

A smile brighter than the sun sits

Im happy for him

The man never slips from my mind.