Barkeep

Chapter 10

As Alex slumped down on the stool vacated by Lu, a heavy weight settled over him, the reality of the situation sinking in like an anchor dragging him down. Goff, the enigmatic figure, took his spot behind the bar and watched Alex with a knowing look.

"Why did you send her here?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes fixed on Goff's impassive face.

Goff regarded him for a moment, his gaze cutting through the darkness of the bar. "Sometimes, things happen for reasons we can't comprehend," he said cryptically, his voice low and gravelly.

Alex frowned, frustration bubbling up inside him. "That's not an answer," he insisted, his voice tinged with anger. "Why her? Why now?"

Goff sighed, a heavy sigh that seemed to echo through years of pain and suffering. "There are forces at work beyond our understanding," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Some call it fate; others call it destiny. Whatever you choose to call it, it brought her here."

Alex's voice quivered with desperation as he shook his head, his mind reeling with disbelief. "But why here?" he pressed, his voice desperate. "Of all the purgatory bars, why mine?"

Goff's expression softened, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his face. "Because you needed her," he said simply, his voice tinged with compassion. "And she needed you."

Alex felt a lump form in his throat as he absorbed Goff's words, a powerful mixture of sorrow and gratitude washing over him. He had spent an eternity trying to numb the pain of his past, to bury himself in the shadows of his own guilt and regret. But now, with Lu by his side, he realized he didn't have to face the darkness alone.

As Goff stepped behind the bar, Alex knew he had a choice to make. He could wallow in despair, drowning in the sorrows of his past, or he could embrace the future with open arms, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As Alex's mind churned with a whirlwind of emotions, he couldn't shake the feeling of anger simmering beneath the surface. He looked at Goff, his eyes burning with intensity.

"There were other ways to fire me," Alex said, his voice edged with bitterness. "You didn't have to kill her."

Goff's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of something crossed his eyes, perhaps a hint of regret or something else entirely.

"I didn't kill her," Goff replied evenly, his tone betraying nothing. "I merely guided her to where she needed to be."

Alex scoffed, the sourness in his voice escalating. "Guided her? More like shoved her off a cliff," he retorted, his frustration boiling over.

Goff's gaze hardened, his features becoming unreadable once more. "Her time had come," he said simply, his voice tinged with finality. "Just as yours will someday."

Alex bristled at the implication, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He wanted to lash out, to scream and shout and rail against the unfairness of it all. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't change anything.

Instead, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew he couldn't change the past, but he could still shape the future. The weight of grief and determination hung heavy in the air as Alex sat at the bar, his mind racing with thoughts of Lu and the injustice of her death. Desperation clawed at him, driving him to contemplate drastic measures in his quest to be reunited with her.

With a heavy heart, Alex turned to Goff, his voice low and filled with anguish. "If I can't be with her here, then I'll find another way," he said, his words tinged with desperation. "I'll end it all, and then maybe I'll finally be with her again."