Lunch

You make your way to the hospital's cafeteria in search of food. You are relieved to find the lunchtime rush in full swing meaning nobody gives you a second glance. Well, maybe one or two guys look twice as you pass but nobody bothers you which is the main thing.

Mindful of your experience at breakfast you order a simple salad and a diet soda. You are sure your new taste buds won't object to that.

"Quite you," you tell your stomach as it growls in protest at the small portions"you couldn't even manage a bowl of cereal this morning. This will be plenty."

Finding a free table proves a bit more challenging. With the place so busy it takes some searching and twice you start toward an empty chair only for another customer to swoop in and beat you to it. You are beginning to wish you'd gone to eat in your room when an older couple waves you over as they are leaving. Gratefully you sit at the vacated table and stab your fork into the bowl of salad.

The first mouthful is delicious, so sweet, crisp, and fresh it makes you groan softly. You don't remember the last time you tasted something so good. Is it just the effect of being on a restricted diet all this time or does Katie's body just really likes salad you wonder. Either way, you attack your meal with gusto relishing every bite.

"Excuse me," a voice interrupts your feast "is this seat taken?"