Lunch is supposed to be a nice break, a chance to connect

You know, there’s this one person at my work, and I’ve noticed something that’s been going on for a while now. It’s not a big, dramatic thing, but it’s one of those quiet, ongoing issues that can really wear on a person.

It all revolves around lunch.

Every single day, like clockwork, she brings her lunch from home. She’ll heat it up in the microwave and then head to the breakroom table, ready to sit down and eat. And here’s the thing: a bunch of us from the office always go out to eat together. We don’t really plan it; it’s just a habit. Someone will say, “Hey, heading to the café, who’s in?” and almost everyone at their desks will gather their things.

The problem is, they never ask her. They’ll walk right past her in the breakroom, chatting and laughing about where they’re going, and just… leave. She’s always sitting there, eating her lunch alone.

I’ve seen her look up with a hopeful smile sometimes when she hears the commotion, but the invitation never comes. She just ends up nodding politely and then going back to her food. It’s become such a routine that I don’t even think the others realize they’re doing it anymore. It’s like she’s become invisible during that part of the day.

It just makes me feel for her, you know? Lunch is supposed to be a nice break, a chance to connect. For her, it must feel like the longest hour of the day. It’s a small thing, but that kind of isolation, day after day, has to be tough.