The Wooden Chair

Across a restaurant table, Daniel is told that another man has already replaced him in his daughter's life, and the bread between them goes untouched.

Unfilled Love

The waiter noticed the untouched bread before the silence.

It sat between Daniel and Claire in a wicker basket, three warm rolls cooling beneath a napkin. Steam had carried the smell of butter and rosemary into the space between them. Daniel had reached for one and stopped because Claire was speaking.

Now the butter had hardened in its dish.

Outside, rain blurred the headlights and turned the pavement black and shining. Cars passed through puddles with a sound like a long breath. Inside, glasses touched, cutlery scraped against china, and someone near the bar laughed too loudly.

Daniel sat with his hands beneath the table.

“Her mother is married,” Claire had said. “He has already replaced you. You don’t matter in her life.”

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Quick answers about The Wooden Chair

What is The Wooden Chair about?

Across a restaurant table, Daniel is told that another man has already replaced him in his daughter's life, and the bread between them goes untouched.

Is The Wooden 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.