FIFTY NINE

Lunch had mostly consisted of silence, except for the occasional clinking of silverware against ceramic plates. They both were toying with their food in every honesty; pushing chucks of meat and vegetables back and forth and around the plates, each doing it subconsciously but noticing the other’s disinterest in the food. Calan spoke first like always.

“Do you not like the food?”. He asked her.

And it was only then she realized that she hadn’t taken a single bite, that she had been toying with her food like a child.

“I…I do, I must have….trailed off”. She stuttered quietly.

Her gaze flickered to his plate and she realized she hadn’t been the only one who hadn’t been paying much attention to the food.

“Please eat”. Calan urged her.

He didn’t want her skipping meals on his watch; he didn’t want her skipping meals at all.

“You too”. She said quietly.

He set his fork down as though her replied had completely destroyed his interest in the food.

Knowing he had to address the matter at han