A delicate balance.

An inside joke between two people who were once deeply in love. It floated to the surface of her mind without warning. She smiled, and then paused, her mouth slightly open, hand reaching for the door of the restaurant. She could see herself reflected in the smudged glass, the city lights behind her setting her hair on fire.

She stood there, staring at herself, until someone came up behind her and, without saying anything at all, pushed her along: "Come on, now. It's cold out here."

As she let herself be moved forward into the dim, warm light of the place, she saw him waiting for her, this tall, dark silhouette in a skinny tie, and she smiled again. Let the old joke settle back into the deep recesses of her brain, and walked forward, one step at a time.