She tapped her foot impatiently, her fingers drumming a frantic rhythm on the table. The cafe was busy, but she hardly noticed the surrounding activity, lost in the flurry of her own anticipation. The minutes crawled by, each one seeming to stretch into an eternity. This had been planned for so long.
Finally, she saw Ben approaching, and a wide smile spread across her face. “Ben! You’re here!” she called out, her voice full of an almost childish happiness. She’d spent weeks imagining this moment, crafting the memory in her mind.
Ben approached, his expression neutral. “Hey, Sarah. What’s going on?” He looked puzzled. She had imagined a shared laugh, a knowing look, the joy of a shared accomplishment.
“The… the escape room! The themed one! The competition!" she spluttered. She had envisioned the thrill, the challenges, the collaborative teamwork. She hadn't expected this confusion.
Ben frowned. “Sarah, I thought we were going to the gallery opening. Remember? I thought you were dying to see the new exhibit.” His words hung in the air, heavy with a shared misunderstanding. Her smile wavered, and her sense of joy began to unravel. A feeling of unease settled in her stomach.