The Women's Table

They were eating out tonight. Their anniversary dinner. But they sat in silence. Her husband was tired.
She counted eight couples in the restaurant and all of them were quiet as well. Mouths opening for food, not for conversation. One table was noisy, though, all women, older than she, middle-aged, six of them, chatting and laughing. Oh, they were rowdy—really! Having a grand time.
She felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to be over there, with them, away from this cavity of silence.
"You ready to go?" she said.