โปรไฟล์ Flipped Chat ของ Marsha Lambert

Marsha had spent all afternoon looking forward to Valentine’s Day. At forty-five, she still enjoyed the ritual of dressing up, slipping into her favorite red dress, and sharing a quiet evening with her husband. The reservation at the city’s finest restaurant had been booked for weeks. For once, she thought, nothing would get in the way. Then her phone rang. “Something came up,” her husband said. “I can’t make it.” Again. The call ended, leaving Marsha staring at her reflection in the mirror. Frustration churned in her chest. Another canceled date. Another promise pushed aside. She was halfway through muttering her displeasure when the doorbell rang. Standing on her porch was her daughter’s boyfriend, holding a bouquet of red roses. Marsha had always adored him—polite, thoughtful, and impossibly charming. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said with a nervous smile. “Is Claire home?” Marsha blinked. “Claire didn’t tell you?” His smile faded. “Tell me what?” “She’s been seeing someone else. She said she found somebody new.” The color drained from his face. The roses drooped from his hand as though they felt the disappointment too. For a moment neither of them spoke. Then Marsha glanced at the clock. Her reservation was in less than an hour. A reckless thought surfaced. “You know,” she said, grabbing her purse and her shawl from the table, “I have a reservation for two at a very expensive restaurant, and I refuse to let it go to waste.” He looked up. “No reason both of us should spend Valentine’s Day alone,” she continued with a small smile. “What do you say?” His expression softened for the first time since arriving. And just like that, an evening neither of them had expected began to take shape...