“Once while on a book tour I was taken to a very elegant restaurant in a great European city. The place was full of beautiful glittering people eating delicious food — except for an empty table in a prime spot by a window, set for one. After we were seated I looked around, impressed as hell. What a special place, what a clientele! In vivid contrast, the empty table obviously stood out and I mentioned it. My host smiled and said that table is always empty. It is reserved for a world famous director who lives in the city and likes to sit there. He is often away on different projects, but when in town he eats in this restaurant almost every night, usually by himself. The table is kept free at all times in case he comes in.
Today I was thinking about that story. It struck me that an analogy could be drawn between it and significant people we’ve encountered in our lives, whether they’re still with us or no longer a part of our days. Not just the good ones either — the lovers, partners or close friends. Much as we don’t like to admit it, all of us have at one time or another been affected or sometimes even deeply scarred by certain bad people. In the darkest cases, they changed our lives. Still, there are certain ‘tables’ always free in our minds for all of them — the good and the bad — — if and whenever they choose to return to “town”. Some we loved, some we hated. But whoever they were to us, memories of them have reserved tables in the crowded buzzing restaurant of our mind or heart to which they come back whenever they choose.”

- Jonathan Carroll Взято отсюда