Catch the Seven
Mike sits at the bar. He had a drink in his hand as he sat at the corner all alone. He’d been coming here for some time now as the beverages helped him hide from the nightmare of that evening. He came to Nashville to be with her, her and her daughter that is. Now he sits alone trying to forget.
They’re good to him here. They understand his circumstance though he never told them of that night and how that lead to where he sits now. He volunteers to clean the toilets and in return they give him drinks. Sure it’s in a paper cup but he can also get a shot of the good stuff too.
People frequently walk past him as he sits at the bar. Many sit right beside him and pretend he is not there. Sure his clothes tell them and his unshaven face reassures them but he’s still a man! Damn them for judging me! He sits...broken, but with a heart that still keeps rhythm though at times he wishes it did not.
The taste of the drink reduces the sting but the pain is much too large. He finds his lips becoming numb but that pain still lingers inside. That night changed his life. It brought him to his knees. “She was the one you know”. He states to whoever will listen. But they choose to pretend he didn’t speak and continue with their festive escape from their own lives.
They treat me like shit, he thinks to himself. Looking up into the mirror behind the bar, he sees a man that didn’t choose to dress like this. He sees a man that looks lost. He sees a man whose eyes shine much dimmer than before.
The paper cup was empty as he asked the man next to him for the time. He had to catch the 7:00 bus to the shelter. “6:10” the man responded, quickly turning the other way to avoid conversation. Mike had time time for a couple more.
“Chip?” he quietly said to the bar tender pointing to his empty cup. “Sure thing” Chip responded and turned to fulfill his request. Mike patiently sat and waited for that next taste as the memory continued to play.
It was raining that night. She and her daughter had gone to the store just down the road from their house. She didn’t see that truck as their car went spinning. The headlights of their car lead her away from him taking her daughter too. His life had become so wonderful with them in it. Life was perfect until that phone call. He denied it was her and kept that hope as he drove down to see them. But what he saw quickly dissolved that hope. It was her hand, it was her eyes, it was-
“Here you go Mike”. Chip said temporarily removing him from the nightmare. “Thanks man”, Mike responded knowing the cup’s contents would not drive away the pain. But still, night after night, he tried. He believed in God, but felt God had betrayed him. In the same breath he knew God had nothing to do with his collapse. But still he fell and still felt he couldn’t get up. No one chooses to be where he was. No one chooses to stay at the shelter, asking for money that they all knew would be spent on alcohol. Sure that’s where some of it went, but he also bought a bus ticket. He knew that this was not his choice but he also knew that he was full of shit. He was in hell and though he wanted out...he ironically remained.
“What time do you have now?” Mike asked. After learning he had 20 minutes until the 7:00, he got Chip’s attention. He felt that he had a continuous empty cup. Sadly, he knew he kept filling that cup with something that was easily consumed. It didn’t save him from his past nor was it leading him to better things. But continually he asked for another.
“I don’t have a chance.” Mike said over his last paper cup to anyone that would listen. Unfortunately, they didn’t hear. Or did they just not want to hear? Either way no one responded to his cry. His chance had come and gone he felt, just like this last cup of attempted escape. If only that numbing feeling worked with the heart. It hasn’t worked this past year of hell.
He knew he would have to try again tomorrow when the lady responded “10 ‘til 7”.
He looked at the people at the bar. Dressed to impress, laughing, flirting, drinking and having the time of their lives. It was likely temporary but to Mike it looked eternal. His time had come and gone. He didn’t have a chance. And he needed to leave now if he had a chance to catch the seven.
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