Better
It was nearly closing time and the bar was almost empty except for a few regulars who had passed out in their booths.
As Merle wiped down the bar, someone at the far end caught his eye. He had seen her when she came in and grabbed the only empty bar stool and she hadn't moved from that spot since. She had ordered a bottle of water and had been sipping on that bottle all night.
He kept glancing her way every time he picked up some empty glasses or bottles and even though he continued to clean up, he noticed she kept looking up at the shelf behind the bar, eyeing one of the bottles.
If she didn't look so damn lost and broken, he would have been worried she would hop right over the bar, grab that bottle, and take off out of the door but she didn't look to be that type.
After he had turned off the open sign, he finished getting the place wiped down, swept and mopped, and the trash taken out.
And she was still sitting there.
He turned out the lights over the booths and a few of the tables before walking back over to the bar.
"Ma'am, we're closin' up. Ya got somewhere ta go?" he asked.
She didn't answer him, just kept looking down at her water bottle as if she hadn't heard him.
"Ma'am," he said, stepping closer and leaning down on the bar so they were eye level. "Did ya hear what I said?"
She raised her head a little and nodded, and then he noticed her eyes flicker behind him to that bottle on the shelf again before she looked back down.
"There a reason ya ain't had nothin' but water since ya came in 'ere?"
She didn't answer his question with words but she did answer it when she reached into her pocket and laid a coin down on the counter.
He picked it up and rubbed his thumb over it.
"Ya ain't been sober long. Did ya come in 'ere lookin' for a drink?"
"No," she shook her head. "I came in here to feel better."
"Feel better, huh. I know what ya mean but if you're tryin' a stay sober, comin' ta a bar ain't tha right thing ta do."
"I know. That's why I only ordered a bottle of water."
He looked down when he heard the plastic of that bottle crackle and he reached for it.
"I'll give ya another water but I'm closin' down so ya got ta leave."
"No," she whispered. "I don't need another one."
She reached into her pocket to get her money to pay for the bottle but Merle held up his hand and said, "Ya ain't got ta pay for a damn bottle a water. If you was drinkin' somethin' else, I'd make ya pay." He handed her the coin back. "But don't let me see ya back in 'ere."
She gave him a shy smile and disappeared out of the door.
He felt bad he didn't at least see her out, especially at this time of night, and he kicked himself for telling someone not to come back to his bar when they hadn't caused any trouble but he had been where she is now and he knew how hard it was to stay sober so he wasn't going to let her or anyone else fall of the wagon.
A/N: Yes, I know I need to focus on my other stories but this has been sitting in my notepad since 2015 and I figured it was time to post it. This will stay a little one shot unless there's enough demand for it to be more. Nevertheless, I hope y'all enjoyed it.
Please don't forget to leave a review!
-A