The Empty Chair

Every Sunday Mara photographs two cups of coffee at the cafe window and posts one. Daniel sits across from her, always present, never in the frame.

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Every Sunday morning, Mara photographed two cups of coffee and posted only one.

She had a favorite table at Bellweather Café, the small round one beside the window where the glass turned pale gold in the early light. She would place her cappuccino near the folded newspaper, move the sugar jar out of sight, and tilt the cup until the little leaf in the foam faced her phone.

Across from her sat Daniel.

He was always there, but never in the picture.

Sometimes his hand appeared at the edge of the frame, and Mara would gently push it away.

“Sorry,” she would say, smiling as though it were a harmless habit. “It ruins the shot.”

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Quick answers about The Empty Chair

What is The Empty Chair about?

Every Sunday Mara photographs two cups of coffee at the cafe window and posts one. Daniel sits across from her, always present, never in the frame.

Is The Empty Chair free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.