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“I don’t know Rathmar, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea for you right now.”
“Please,” I say, throwing my hands together in a begging motion. “I’ll stay right here at the bar, I promise.”
She sighs, shrugging her shoulders before pouring me an ale. Before she gives it to me, she fetches another pint, this time filling it with water. She then brings the drinks to me.
“If you’re going to drink, you’ve got to have this water too. I won’t serve any more than that if you don’t sober up.”
“You got it,” I say, nodding along. “Thank you Kyra. You’re one of the very few people who’s still nice to me anymore.”
She looks at me with sympathy before continuing her duties. I didn’t mind doing as she asks, knowing she’s just looking out for me. There weren't many of those people left in my world.
I slowly sip on the water before moving on to the ale, chugging it down in one go. Another patron comes to the bar, gesturing for service. He casts a sidelong glance of disgust my way.
“Why do you still let this bum in here?” he asks Kyra. “He’s a waste of space.”
“That’s not true,” I snap. “I’ll have you know I’m a good person. Right now I’m just having the worst luck of my life…”
“Just leave Rathmar alone, alright?” says Kyra. “He’s not bothering anyone.”
She watches cautiously as the customer shakes his head at me before returning to his table. She then leans closer to me.
“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
“I…”
A part of me wants to say yes, to get all of this pain out of my system… But I cannot find the strength to do so.
“No thanks.”
“Okay, well let me know if you need anything else.”
“Another drink?” I ask.
“Alright, one ale and one water coming right up.”
She serves me the drinks before going off to clean some tables. I peer down at my reflection in the ale, looking upon a pitiful minotaur who had no one but himself to blame.
How the fuck have I stooped so low in life?
Just then, there comes booming footsteps from behind me. I glance over my shoulder, spotting a silver-furred minotaur gazing down at me. In place of the usual disdain people had for me, there’s instead a look of curiosity in his eyes.
“Are you okay buddy?” he asks.
“I’m just fine, thank you,” I reply, surprised by the politeness of this stranger. “How about you?”
“Very well, thanks. Just here to pick up my wife.”
“Wife?”
“That’s right, she works here.”
Before I can answer, Kyra’s voice rings ecstatically through the air.
“Zy! I’m just finishing up now.”
She leans across the counter and plants a kiss upon the stranger’s lips, the sight of which only reminds me of what I no longer have. A pain sprouts inside my chest as I turn away from the couple, knocking back the rest of my drink in one mouthful.
“Hey Nova,” I call to the other bartender. “Can I get another one of these please?”
