Y/N sits at the bar, his gaze fixed on the amber liquid in his glass.
The clinking of ice against the glass is drowned out by the din of the crowded room, but he's too lost in his thoughts to care.
His mind is a swirling vortex of regrets, each drink attempting to drown them out, yet only managing to add to the storm.
The bartender's concerned glances go unnoticed, lost in the haze that Y/N has willingly plunged himself into.
As the night drags on, Y/N's movements become slower, more lethargic.
The once clear-cut reality around him blurs, edges softening into indistinguishable shapes and colors.
He lifts his glass, the motion mechanical, his eyes unfocused.
He doesn't feel the gentle tap on his shoulder at first, lost in the fog of his own making.
"Hey," a soft voice cuts through the haze, gentle but firm. "If you keep going like this, you'll drink yourself to death."
Y/N turns, his vision swimming, to see a woman with kind eyes looking at him.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He blinks, trying to process her words through the fog in his mind.
Her face swims in and out of focus.
Y/N: "What does it matter?" he mutters, his words slurred, barely coherent.
"It matters," she replies, her tone leaving no room for argument. The firmness in her voice anchors him, if only for a moment. "Come on, let's get you out of here."
Y/N attempts to stand, but his legs feel like lead. The world tilts alarmingly, and he stumbles. The woman catches him, her grip strong and steady.
She guides him out of the bar, one slow step at a time. The cold night air hits him like a splash of water, but it does little to clear his muddled thoughts.
The walk to her car is a blur. Y/N is vaguely aware of being helped into the passenger seat, the woman fastening his seatbelt.
The ride is silent, the hum of the engine a distant drone in his ears. He closes his eyes, the motion of the car lulling him into a fitful sleep.
When he wakes, sunlight is streaming through unfamiliar curtains, casting a harsh glare across the room.
His head pounds, each throb a reminder of the previous night.
His mouth feels like sandpaper, dry and parched. He squints against the light, trying to get his bearings.
The woman from the bar is sitting in a chair nearby, a steaming mug of coffee in her hands.
She looks up when he stirs, her expression one of concern and determination.
"Good morning," she greets him. Her voice is soft, but there's a firmness beneath it. "I'm giving you a week to stay here. During that time, we're going to work on fixing your life."
Y/N frowns, trying to remember her name, the details of the night before slipping through his fingers like sand. She seems to read his mind.
"I'm Kaori. And you are?"
Y/N: "Y/N," he croaks out, his throat dry and scratchy.
Kaori: "Well, Y/N, are you ok? Why were you drinking yourself to sleep last night?"
Y/N looks to Kaori, looking away
Y/N: "Nothing. I just- I'm going through something... That's it."
Kaori: "Well. Let's make the most of it," She says, offering him a glass of water and an aspirin. "Start with this. We've got a lot of work to do."
He takes the glass with shaky hands, the cool water soothing his parched throat. The aspirin is a small mercy, dulling the sharp edges of his headache.
Kaori watches him, her expression a mix of patience and resolve.
Y/N leans back, the events of the previous night slowly coming back to him. The bar, the drinks, the overwhelming sense of despair that had driven him to the bottom of his glass.
He looks at Kaori, a question forming in his mind.
Y/N: "Why are you helping me?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kaori sighs, setting her coffee down.
Kaori: "Because I've been where you are," she says simply. "And because everyone deserves a second chance. You just need someone to believe in you..."
Her words hang in the air, and for the first time in a long while, Y/N feels a glimmer of something he thought he'd lost. Hope. It's faint, like a flickering candle in the darkness, but it's there.
Y/N: "Okay," he says finally, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. "I'll stay."
Kaori smiles, a warm, genuine smile that reaches her eyes.
Kaori: "Good," she says. "Now, let's get started. One step at a time."
As Y/N takes another sip of water, he feels the fog in his mind begin to lift, just a little. It's a small start, but for now, it's enough
Kaori smiles. Looking to him.
Kaori: "You don't remember me, do you?"
Y/N: "Remember you?... No, I'm sorry. Your face is new to me... I think."
Kaori shakes her head
Kaori: "Don't bother yourself with the thought. I'll get you another cup of water. The alcohol probably made you really dehydrated."
Y/N looked at Kaori get up, as she walked out to the kitchen. Taking his glass as she went and filled it up.
