I believe the concept exists in other cities; a restaurant where you eat in pitch black and are served by blind waiters. The experience is a curious as it is unsettling. You are walked through a couple of black-out curtains and met by your waiter who then takes you by the hand and leads you to your place at your designated table. Before you, you fumble around and identify your plate and cutlery, a napkin and your wine glass. The room is utterly devoid of the slightest source of any light and pretty soon your mind begins to project entoptic images into the dark which can distract you from the conversation you are taking part in with your commensals. Even for a city like Barcelona where the natives tend to speak louder than your average Northern European, Eric noticed how rapidly people’s voices grew louder as if the dense blackness might smother their words. Periodically some busybody or other in the dining room would shush the crowd and the barking would cease, voices dropping almost to a whisper for the briefest of moments before the next crescendo rapidly expanded and occupied the room from wall to wall to wall to wall. Eric’s mind wandered and he thought of bats and how they get around as he drew up a mental picture of those of his friends and colleagues around the long table and how far they might be from him. This evening was a departmental event and all in all they were rather a large group, shouting excitedly in unison at one and other.

The waiter had sat him down somewhere towards what he judged to be the middle of the table and he chatted with those across from him and with the girl to his right. To his left he had felt a chair when he sat down but the place was left empty and after ten minutes when everyone appeared to have been seated he presumed they might all constitue an odd number and that the place would not be occupied. And then he felt someone slip into the chair. From the soft scent of peach and the slightest of undertones of honey and cinnamon he knew immediately it was Amber and his heart jumped. He arched his neck and smiled secretly up to the stars. He was the first person she turned to and asked who was there. She would not have noticed but he hesitated ever so slightly before leaning towards her to give her his name. As he did so he suddenly found himself unintentionally being drawn into her hair and the left corner of his mouth brushed her cheek momentarily as they spoke quietly with one and other. His elbows and forearms leant on the table and his hands were dry and steady but he wondered if she might somehow sense the thumping in his chest. Around them the gaggle kept up an incomprehensible racket and he listened to some of it as best he could whilst feeling utterly distracted with the presence of Amber to his left. At moments her leg would brush against his and she would move it away gently and without apparent urgency. Admirably, the waiters did an excellent job of topping up the wine in peoples glasses as they were drained and the long table was swept with banter and infectious tides of periodic laughter. When he and Amber spoke, at times she would lean in towards him, almost cupping his ear with her hand to share a thought and he could feel her breath against his neck. Then things got a little silly as she played at stealing his glass of wine and for some minutes they were behaving like awkward teenagers as they played this game of “hey, give it back!”. She laughed and poked him gently in the belly a couple of times in a gesture of “don’t be silly or else I might tickle you”. He then returned the gesture in a slightly softer manner and felt his hand brush over her navel. She took his hand in hers and held it briefly before gently moving it away. His blood was racing through his veins and he could think of nothing other than wanting to lean his mouth over towards hers for a secret moment they might share in utter silence.

By now the last course had been served and the waiters stopped topping up peoples glasses. One of them then appeared from somewhere behind him and Amber and declared that the meal was over and he would now lead them out of the dining room. They all stood up and took each other’s hands, turning towards where they presumed the exit was. Amber took his hand and for a moment he knew she was not turned away from him and facing the general direction of the exit but was turned towards him close enough for them both to feel the radiant heat of each other’s skin. Apart from her holding his hand in hers they never touched but he felt something within them lunge towards one and other and distinctly felt their mouths meet in the dark space between them, as if the pent up energy, the bridled intention of that kiss had escaped their souls.

The waiter got them organized into lines and lead them towards the exit as her slender hand led him forwards behind her, through the black-out curtains and into the light of the reception area of the restaurant. Suddenly he found himself blinded, blinking stupidly and surrounded by others.