at a restaurant

The restaurant was at capacity during the dinner rush. Every available table and seat at the bar were filled. The atmosphere was thick with the sound of a hundred conversations, the smell of food and clanking of silverware. One of the wait staff had called in sick so the rest were overburdened in their deities. Not so much that it was causing a problem, but they were just starting to fall behind enough that people were waiting a little longer than expected to get their service. There was a waiting list and a crowd of people standing outside waiting for the next available table.

Tonight, I was here in person. I am not always, but I do have a physical form and have to be somewhere. I would have no trouble getting a table to myself if I chose to make one available to me. I could also join any of these patrons already in progress enjoying their evening. There were couples on dates, older couples out for a night without the kids, left at home with a babysitter, young couples on their first, second or third dates. Some who just met through a matchmaking service or app. There were families out for dinner together and groups of friends celebrating various occasions, promotions, birthdays, retirements, or other major accomplishment.