AMBER REFLECTIONS

It’s not that I don’t like people, she said, looking at her glass.

He nodded. The light caught the amber of her whiskey. She always drank it straight. No ice. He thought it was a bold choice.

They were in a small bar on the edge of town. The kind of place where the jukebox played old country songs and the bartender knew your name after a few visits. They didn’t come often. Only when things got too heavy and they needed to remember they weren’t alone.

I get it, he said. It’s hard being around people who don’t get you.

She looked up, meeting his eyes. Hers were tired. But there was something there, too—a flicker of defiance. It’s like I’m always performing, she said. I just want to be myself for a while.

The bar was nearly empty. Just them and a couple of regulars hunched over their drinks. The sounds of laughter and conversation from the night before still seemed to linger, like ghosts.

He took a sip of his beer. Society’s tough, he said. They want you to play your part. And when you don’t, they turn on you.

She smiled. It was small and sad and didn’t reach her eyes. I know, she said. Sometimes I just wish I could disappear. Just for a while.

He put his hand over hers. You don’t have to disappear, he said. You just have to find your own way. Maybe it’s not about fitting in. Maybe it’s about standing out.

She looked at their hands, her fingers tightening around his. Maybe, she said softly. Maybe.

They sat in silence, the noise of the bar fading. The world outside felt far away, a place they didn’t belong. Here, they were just two people, trying to figure things out.

After a while, she stood up, taking a deep breath. I think I’m ready, she said. Ready to face them.

He stood beside her. We’ll do it together, he said. We’ll face them together.

They left the bar and stepped into the cool night. The town was quiet. The streets were empty. But as they walked, hand in hand, they knew they weren’t alone. They had each other. That was enough.

The first light of dawn began to break. They faced the new day with a sense of hope, ready to take it on, one step at a time.

Cassandra Byte

Celebrate the beauty of everyday life with Cassandra Byte, capturing heartfelt stories of family, friendship, and growth.