The Empty Chair

Every day, he sat in the same café at 5 PM.

One chair was always empty beside him.

The waiter once asked, “Waiting for someone?”

He smiled. “No. Just keeping the seat reserved.”

“Reserved for who?”

He looked at the empty chair.

“My old self.”

The waiter laughed, thinking it was a joke.

But the truth was, three years ago, he used to sit there with his best friend, making stupid plans about the future.

His friend left the city.

They slowly stopped talking.

And somehow, without noticing, he became a completely different person.

That evening, he finally stood up and left the chair empty.

Not because someone was coming.

But because he had finally decided to move on.