After leaving my boss's office, I went to Ryan's desk, feeling a deep sense of gratitude and relief wash over me. I thanked him for having my back when I lost all hope, for being a true friend in my time of need. I shook his hand, trying to convey the depth of my appreciation.
"Hey, Ryan, I just wanted to thank you for talking to the boss for me," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "I thought I was going to lose my job for sure, but you came to the rescue. Thanks, man. I owe you one."
Ryan smiled and clapped me on the back, his expression warm and friendly. "No problem, Gabriel. That's what friends are for. We've got each other's backs, no matter what."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Ryan. He had always been there for me, through thick and thin, and I knew I could count on him no matter what.
"But how are you doing, really?" Ryan asked, his voice filled with concern. "You look a little rough around the edges. Did everything go okay with the boss?"
I rubbed my eyes, feeling the effects of the previous night's drinking. "I'm fine, just a little hungover," I admitted. "I had a bit too much to drink last night."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "A bit too much? You look like you drank the whole bar. What happened?"
I laughed, feeling a sense of embarrassment wash over me. "I don't know, man. I just lost control, I guess. I was feeling down about Stephanie, and I just started drinking. I didn't mean to get that drunk, but it just happened."
Ryan nodded understandingly, his expression sympathetic. "I know how that is," he said. "We've all been there at some point or another. But you did the right thing by leaving your car at the bar. You could have killed yourself or someone else if you had driven home like that."
I shuddered at the thought, feeling a sense of horror wash over me. "I know, I know. I wasn't thinking about driving home last night. I wasn't thinking about anything except forgetting my troubles. But I'm glad I didn't drive. I don't think I could have handled it if I had gotten into an accident or hurt someone."
Ryan put a hand on my shoulder, his expression serious. "You're a good guy, Gabriel. You made a mistake, but you learned from it. Just be more careful next time, okay?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Ryan. He had always been there for me, offering words of encouragement and support when I needed it most.
"Thanks, man," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "I appreciate it. I don't know what I would do without you."
Ryan smiled and clapped me on the back again. "Anytime, Gabriel. That's what friends are for."
After today's work ended, I took a cab and returned to the bar I had visited the previous night. My initial intention was to retrieve my car, which I had left there due to my intoxicated state. As I entered the bar, I was surprised to see a familiar face - Sarah, the lady I had consoled the night before. She was sitting at the bar, sipping a drink and staring off into space.
I approached her, and she recognized me immediately. A smile spread across her face, and she greeted me warmly. "Gabriel, right?" she asked, her voice filled with recognition. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
I smiled back at her, feeling a sense of connection. "Sarah, yeah. I came back for my car. I left it here last night." I explained, taking a seat next to her at the bar.
Sarah nodded understandingly. "I did the same thing. I was too drunk to drive, so I took a cab home." She chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't even remember how I got home, to be honest."
I laughed. "I'm glad we both made responsible decisions. But how are you doing today? How's your heart?" I asked, genuinely concerned about her well-being.
Sarah sighed, her expression turning somber. "I'm trying to move on. It's not easy, but I'm trying to focus on the future instead of dwelling on the past." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "It's hard, though. I keep thinking about what could have been, what I could have done differently."
I nodded empathetically. "I know how you feel. I'm going through something similar. Stephanie rejected my proposal, and it's been tough for me to move on." I shared, opening up to her.
Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm so sorry, Gabriel. That must have been really tough for you." She reached out, placing a hand on my arm. "I can only imagine how you must feel."
I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "It's life, right? We've got to keep moving forward. But it's nice to know I'm not alone in this." I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Sarah.
Sarah smiled back, and we exchanged contacts. "Let's keep in touch, okay? Maybe we can support each other through these tough times." She suggested, her eyes sparkling with kindness.
I grinned, feeling a sense of connection with Sarah. "Absolutely. Let's do it." We parted ways, each of us returning to our respective cars. As I drove home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Sarah. We had both been through tough times, but we had found solace in each other's company. I looked forward to our future conversations, knowing that we could support each other through the ups and downs of life.
Just quite funny how drinks can make you forget some stuffs, she did remember me and my name, but I can tell that she forgot about my story last night, seeing the way she was taken aback when I brought it up, I can tell that the memories of last night are not yet fully back inside her head. I'm just looking forward to seeing her in the future.