BALANCED LUCK

six

⨯ brennan ⨯

THREE YEARS LATER

I sat in my plush office chair, gazing out at the sprawling cityscape below me. My company had grown exponentially in the last few years, and my nightclub, "The Lucky Flower," was thriving. I should have been satisfied, content with the life I had built. But I wasn't. A strange sort of emptiness lingered in my chest, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.

I leaned back in my chair, a sigh escaping my lips. My eyes fell on the framed picture on my desk, a photo of me and Clover on the beach. We were laughing, my arm around her shoulders as she leaned into me. I picked up the frame, my fingers tracing the outline of her face.

It had been five years since I had confessed my love to her unconscious body. I had stayed away all these years, telling myself it was for the best, that she was better off without me. The guilt and pain still weighed heavily on me, a constant reminder of what I had lost.

I had kept myself updated on her progress through Atlas. He had told me that Clover had woken up three years ago and was now pursuing her music career. I listened to every song she released, the melodies and lyrics the only way I could have her.

But it wasn't enough. I wanted more. I wanted to see her face, hear her voice, touch her skin. I missed her with a desperate ache that never seemed to go away. The memory of her smile, her laugh, her sparkling eyes haunted me like a ghost.

I closed my eyes, setting the picture frame back down on the desk. I took a deep breath, trying to quell the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm me. I had made my choice, and I had to live with it. Clover was better off without me.

I stood up, suddenly restless. I needed to get out of this office, away from the reminders of what I had lost. In that moment, an idea came to me. I knew it was a bad idea, a foolish move, but I couldn't help myself.

I grabbed my coat, shrugged it on, and headed out the door. I pushed past the employees in the hall, my mind set on a goal that I knew could only lead to trouble.

I got into my car, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as I took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of my heart.

I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, the city lights flashing by as I sped through the streets. My thoughts were racing, my emotions a chaotic mess.

It didn't take me long to reach my destination. In the distance, the neon sign of my nightclub "The Lucky Flower" glowed against the dark sky. The line of people waiting to get in stretched down the block.

I parked the car and got out, walking towards the entrance. The bouncer recognized me immediately and let me through without a second glance. The loud music and flashing lights assaulted my senses as I stepped inside.

The dance floor was packed, bodies moving and grinding to the beat. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and alcohol. I made my way to the back, towards the VIP section where I usually spent my nights.

I settled on one of the leather couches, my eyes scanning the crowd. I knew I wasn't here for the thrills of my club. I was here to forget, to drown my heartache in alcohol and pretty faces.