Absence

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

July 7, 2001.

“By the way, I didn’t lose my job, I just needed a way to see you. I’m sorry I lied Sarah but I worry about you”. She stared at her sister blankly and just shook her head. There was a ghost of a smile on her face. “So, wanna go out for a drink? There is this bar just right down the street and they have a really cute bar tender. You remember the place right?.

Of course she remembered. It’s where she first met him. Where it all started.
They headed out and the evening breeze was light and welcoming. They entered the bar and took a seat not far from the door.
“Hey, isn’t this where you met that really handsome artist guy? You collected his phone number right? Did you end up calling him or keeping in touch with him”? Nancy asked with a smile on her face. "Yeah I did. His name is Michael. Umm, we even dated for a while but we broke up couple of weeks back". She said as she looked at her drink. It was the same scotch on the rocks. The same one he loved. “What a jerk, he never deserved you anyways. You’re like the smartest person I know and he probably felt pressured by your awesomeness ya’know. But what has been going on with you Sarah? David called and said you’ve been avoiding him just as you’ve been avoiding me and everyone else”.
Just in that moment, the door opened and a customer walked in.

He walked briskly to the bar and sat on a tall stool. Something about his presence made the two ladies look at him. He had a face cap on and a neck chain. He turned and his eyes fell on the two ladies. A look of recognition and confusion settled in his eyes and he smiled almost uncertainly. Nancy recognized him just as he had recognized the ladies and she grabbed her drink and headed towards him.