"The reason I chose to dine out was to take my mind off the fact that my father passed away the night before. Instead of providing comfort, I felt treated like an inconvenience during a time when I desperately needed some compassion. If she had been attentive to my needs, I wouldn’t have taken up so much time just trying to get drink refills.
The owner’s response to the situation didn’t improve anything. If there truly is a two-hour table limit, then having empty tables around seems unreasonable. I only go out to eat when I need a break from something troubling me, and with a time constraint, I might as well just grill a meal in the park so I can reflect without feeling rushed.
I have no intention of revisiting this restaurant. I wouldn't want to encounter that waitress again, and the way she treated me during this difficult time should not be forgotten. Instead of providing a distraction from my grief, her hostility made me think about my father even more. When I finally had a moment to myself, I broke down in tears. While he was abusive, he was still my dad, and during that meal, I tried to focus on good memories. Unfortunately, her actions only brought back painful ones and made me question my self-worth. It was a terrible time for her to treat someone poorly, and it reopened wounds I thought I had buried."
