Last Lunch

February 27, 2026 Today is full of anniversaries.

The loss of Tatsuda’s.

And the last time we sat face to face and talked.

Lunch.

Pelminis.

Familiarity.

Small talk.

Depth that only skimmed the surface.

I’ve been thinking about whether I even wanted to write about it.

I guess the answer is yes.

But not really.

So here is the recap, as I remember it:

I had missed you terribly.

Thank you for paying.

The pelmini was good.

My food was not.

Your excuse for not coming to the hospital was bullshit — whether it was true or not.

I never got the email you said you sent telling me you had broken up with me.

I went back and checked. Multiple times.

I fawned.

A lot.

You told me you had been fully committed to our relationship. I am unsure of how you justify that.

You lied straight to my face.

Again.

Thank you for not letting the water drip on me from the building overhang. That act of care was very confusing.

When we left, you suggested meeting again the following week.

That hurt my feelings.

Because I didn’t want another meeting.

I just wanted to be close to you.

I loved you and wanted to be in your arms.

Later, I got to thinking:

Why do I always fawn when I’m in close proximity?

I was pretty sure you were lying. Again.

I need to protect myself emotionally.

This isn’t healthy.

It might be best if I don’t meet with him again.

But I didn’t want that.

Despite everything.

I wanted you to apologize for not coming to the hospital. You never did.

I wanted to feel your heartbeat sync with mine.

It never would again.

So, thanks for lunch.

Even after that lunch,

I never thought things between us would unfold the way they did.