Dinner Disaster

I tried to sound witty during dinner, addressing the guest with what I thought was clever. The words tumbled out—wrong, awkward, jumbled. Silence hit the table for a heartbeat, then laughter bubbled around me. My parents smiled, the guest chuckled politely, but heat roared up my neck, prickling behind my ears. I wanted to vanish, melt into the tablecloth, become invisible. Every giggle felt magnified, every glance a spotlight. It was fine, they said, it was funny—but I couldn’t stop cringing. I had spoken. I had embarrassed myself; the world had noticed, and I would never forget it.

Rumaisa Reza is a high school student from Bangladesh who writes fiction and CNF, exploring fleeting moments, emotions, and the quiet intensity of everyday life.