Generic Sappy Story

"Amen".

The world blazes back to life as he opens his eyes.

There is a girl there, seated at the table to his left.
Light and shade contrast strongly here, in the dim orange light of the restaurant. Everything's in soft-focus.

She's still saying Grace. We have an impression of Her being lanky, and tanned; slightly broad shouldered. Her head is bowed and her eyes are closed in prayer. Her mouth is absolutely still - her lips don't move in silent prayer or anything trite like that.

But as we watch closely, the corners of her lips twitch upwards. She is saying Grace with joy, and gratitude. She is thanking God.

A single strand of hair courses intimately down the right side of her face, lightly skimming her cheek, the angle of her jawline, and then further down towards her shoulder. It makes her look somehow vulnerable, almost childlike.

He doesn't move a muscle; he doesn't reach out to touch her.
But we watch his eyes, and see that something inside him has broken... for the very first time.

Realisation is dawning.

Truth will out.

*****
End scene.