A waiter approached her with a fa:ke smile, glanced her up and down, and said politely:

Sorry, but all the tables are currently happened.

Yet several tables were clearly vacant.

Just as she turned to leave, a second waiter—a younger man with a kind face—stepped forward.

He pulled out a chair and offered warmly, “You’re welcome to dine here. There’s always a place for a guest.”

With a faint nod, the woman gave him a grateful, puzzled smile. She slowly removed her coat and draped it over the chair before sitting down. Then, something remarkable happened.

The young man handed her a menu. After a quiet pause, she said in a composed voice:

— I’ll have the creamy porcini mushroom soup and the duck breast with pomegranate glaze. And a good glass of red wine.

The waiter raised an eyebrow slightly: