Your eyes narrow suspiciously as you stare at the cream-colored candy wrapper in your palm. You take a deep breath before you meet the woman's gaze, "I'm sorry, but you can't pay with... candy." The woman looks surprised for a moment. Then she gives you a look - as if you were the loon trying to pay for dinner with candy. Try as you might, you can't quite focus on her appearance.

There is something not quite right about her...

Your momentary lapse of attention is broken when she shakes her head. You see her tresses bouncing wildly, but you can't quite make out their color, then she smiles, "Oh, but this is no ordinary sweet."

Before you can make another move, her fingers clasp your hand. The softness of her skin surprises you, sending a pleasant tingle down your spine. Her grip tightens before you feel the touch of soft lips press against yours. Then, the next moment, she's gone.

You stare at the empty space before you.

Your mouth tastes oddly sweet...

a hint of vanilla, maybe some... caramel?

You try to ignore the strange buttery sensation lingering on your lips while your eyes fall down to the abandoned table. All that's left is her empty dinner plate, a half-full glass of wine, and the candy in your moist palm. You blink, trying to process what just happened before you quickly turn around to look at the restaurant entry. There's no way she could have run out - the doorbell didn't chime. Brows furrowed, you look back down at your palm.

A piece of candy.

The thing looks normal... but nothing about this encounter has been ordinary.

As though a spell has been lifted, the restaurant starts coming back to life.

The waiters begin moving again, and the couple that was in the bathroom earlier comes out of it. You stare at everyone as though they're all accomplices in some grand conspiracy.

No one else seems to be reacting to what you just experienced.

Did you imagine the whole thing?