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Dinner

September 19, 2022 33 Comments

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You take me to the new restaurant on the thirtieth floor of One Africa Tower. The wild lights of the city gnaw at the night. Below us lies the dark oasis of the National Park, where lions hunt and mate. I wish I was down there. Running, roaring, tasting blood.

Around us, waves of mellow jazz wash over murmurs and clinks.

Your thumbs batter the screen of your phone like flies in a jar. You type with one hand and raise your glass with the other: “Happy anniversary.”

I bite into my rare steak and imagine you as a wounded antelope.

By Manuela Stoicescu

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Teodora Vamvu says

    September 19, 2022 at 5:13 am

    Beautifully written, congratulations, Manuela!

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:21 am

      Thank you so much, Teodora! Sweet as always. 🙂

      Reply
    • Jan says

      September 20, 2022 at 3:49 pm

      I really love it.

      Reply
      • Manuela says

        September 22, 2022 at 7:40 am

        I’m very happy to hear that. 🙂

        Reply
  2. Fhi Love says

    September 19, 2022 at 5:18 am

    Such amazing imagery. Very well written. Congratulations. Love this ?

    Reply
    • Fhi Love says

      September 19, 2022 at 5:19 am

      The ? Was a mistake ?

      Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:22 am

      Thank you, my dear, lovely Fhi!

      Reply
  3. Vivian says

    September 19, 2022 at 8:11 am

    Wonderful writing.

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:22 am

      Thank you, Vivian! I appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. Elizabeth says

    September 19, 2022 at 11:37 am

    Wow. I was so enthralled I read this three times. Love it!

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:22 am

      That makes me so happy! 😀 Thank you, Elizabeth!

      Reply
  5. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    September 19, 2022 at 12:28 pm

    Lovely read… great imagery… well done… kudos…

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:23 am

      Thank you very much!!

      Reply
  6. Joyce Jacobo says

    September 19, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    Oooh, everything here was so vivid and powerful, from the imagery to the language. Brilliantly done.

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:23 am

      Thank you so much, Joyce!

      Reply
  7. Maureen MacLennan says

    September 19, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    Love the visuals, such a great blend of ‘modern romance’ and wild beasts beyond. I can understand her desire to be with the more natural of the two worlds.

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:24 am

      I’m glad it resonated. Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Miruna says

    September 19, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    Wow! Loved the flies in the jar particularly!

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:24 am

      <3 Thank you, Miruna! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Laura Besley says

    September 20, 2022 at 12:45 am

    There is great imagery in this piece – congratulations!

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 20, 2022 at 5:24 am

      Thank you very much, Laura!

      Reply
  10. Wendy Markel says

    September 21, 2022 at 5:33 am

    Brilliant imagery as always. Well done.

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 22, 2022 at 7:42 am

      Much appreciated, Wendy! Thank you very much!

      Reply
  11. Laurel McHargue says

    September 21, 2022 at 10:01 am

    Ouch! A commentary on our time. We see it too often—people together yet worlds apart, lost in their devices. We’ll done.

    Reply
  12. Rebecca Garnett says

    September 21, 2022 at 11:52 am

    Loved the use of the word gnaw, thumbs batter the screen…so good !! Absolutely love this piece.

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 22, 2022 at 7:44 am

      Your comment made my day, thanks a million, Rebecca!

      Reply
  13. Melissa says

    September 21, 2022 at 3:36 pm

    Beautifully written, especially the ending.

    Reply
  14. Doug Jacquier says

    September 21, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    The distance of modern life from Hobbs’ ‘Nature red in tooth and claw’ captured in a nutshell. Well done.

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 22, 2022 at 7:43 am

      I’m glad this contrast shone through. Thank you very much for your comment!

      Reply
  15. Liz says

    September 21, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    You deserve all those appreciative comments. Well done!

    Reply
    • Manuela says

      September 22, 2022 at 7:43 am

      Thank you, Liz! 🙂 I really appreciate it.

      Reply
  16. Pphina says

    September 23, 2022 at 12:16 am

    Love how you set the scene… powerful!

    Reply
  17. Anupam says

    September 23, 2022 at 3:53 am

    Wonderful piece. I really loved it.

    Reply

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