His Unforgettable Night

l

onger than beer,loneliness, regret, the weight of a long workweek. I wiped the counter for what felt like the hundredth time, mindlessly working my

I had dreams of more of creating something bigger than this if only I had the chance. But for

n fighting for as long as I can remember. Fighting to survive, to keep the lights on, to prove I can stand on my own. Orphaned young, lif

I didn't think much of it at first it just another wanderer, just another man l

couldn't place it at first, but there was something about the way he moved like he was carrying a weight far heavier than his expensi

, and the rest of the worl

he kind of look you gave when everything had gone wrong, when the world had

e, locked in a silent understanding that seemed to stretch between

rough, almost too soft, like

hadn't taken a seat yet, standing at the bar with an unsettling stillness. I couldn't help but feel the tension in the ai

they couldn't outrun. But there was something magnetic about him, something that pulled me in against my will. Maybe it was th

al. It was a pointless introduction. I already

flicking from my eyes to my lips, the

ng I couldn't quite grasp. But then he drained his glass in one go, setting it down on t

pped, and all that remained was the darkened bar and the two of us in it. He leaned a little closer, the smell of his

e, "Do you ever wonder what it would be like to just le

ords hung in the air like a challenge. Something in me something deep inside yearned for exactly that. To

it much," I said, my

g the ice in his empty glass. "I came here because I needed to forget

rstood him, in a way I hadn't understood anyone in a long time. Life had a way

ere for a conversation or some deep emotional connect

s. His pain was almost tangible, a weight

s eyes back to

want to for

answer r

ights. For a second, I thought he might not say anything at all. Then he le

at the edges. "The lies. The betrayal. The

e it

night whiskey. A woman. Of course. But it wasn't

" I e

e drink like it held all the

to build an empire. Instead, she shattered it. She started l

Tha

It was betrayal soaked in silence and whiskey. I stayed quiet, because

ked, softly, "And wh

ft. "Because it's quiet. Because you didn

ew he was just a random stranger, someone I'd never s

time in ten minutes. I'd meant to kick him out an hour a

re," I said, leaning on the bar

around the edges but ge

I decided to keep his company. We fell into easy conversatio

bartender into a philosopher?" I joked, gr

row. "Deep thoughts

the world's problems while eve

head. "I like that. Even

hrugged. "Maybe

untered with a story about forgetting his phone at a gala and nearly boarding the wron

so hard he nearly spilled his drink. His shoulders shook, and for a momen

s brightened, signaling the real last call. I s

or, but my legs betrayed me. My vision blurred and the

orward but

adied me against the counter. "Hey," He mur

ot. "I-sorry. I forgot how li

sed me down. "Here," he said, sliding a

w sip. The cold water stung my throat, and I felt my

t the small of my back. "You scared me," he admi

," I said, more hushed this time. "I

d, voice soft but firm, like he was

om his touch still ling

n I meant to. Maybe the alcohol was still doing cartwheels in my b

half-letting each other lean in for balance

h of cold water. I blinked up at the moon,

e it a hundred times before. When it rolled to a stop

wasn't sure I was ready for

iet hum of the cab I leaned back into the seat, my head resting against the cold windowpane. The city lights bl

it, my eyes

im calling me,soft, coaxing. A hand gentl

ontrol. But in that moment, I felt happy like I was wrapped in som

sense. Maybe a number. Maybe a dream. Maybe a

ath, low and surprised. "