Alex Drake sat at the bar in the Railway Arms and tried to remember what it was that she had forgotten.
"Another glass of wine for the lady?" Nelson asked.
Disturbed from her thoughts, she looked up and realised for the first time that at some point that evening her glass had become empty. She felt suddenly relieved. The answer to the empty void she felt inside her had been found.
"Yes, thank you." She watched as Nelson refilled her glass, the ghost of a smile lurking at the corners of her lips. "You know, I had the strangest dream last night." Before she had spoken, she hadn't known what she was going to say and now that it was out, she felt a little foolish. She laughed to cover up her embarrassment. "Only… I can't remember what it was about now. Isn't that silly of me?"
Nelson looked at her like he was about to speak and she got a sense of the most infinite sadness in his eyes; but then, before he could answer, he was hailed by a customer at the other end of the bar. He nodded to her and turned away without saying another word.
'Life on Mars' was playing over the pub's speakers. Alex couldn't think of a time when it hadn't been, but that was okay because she wasn't even sure if any other songs existed.
"Wonder if he'll ever know…" She sung along under her breath before taking a large sip of wine.
The wine was very good. It tasted far more expensive than anything she would have expected to receive in a mere pub, even one as good as the Railway Arms. As she drank more, she began to feel pleasantly relaxed and sleepy. She started to drift back into her thoughts and might have become lost amongst them once again, had it not been for a trick of the light that made it seem as if the door opened.
Every nerve suddenly alert, she turned towards the door. It remained obstinately closed despite her glare. No one ever went out of that door. She had seen people come in, she was sure of it, although they came only rarely. Some of them would sit at the bar night after night, others would come in and nod at her in greeting then she would never see them again. But no one ever left.
Claustrophobia constricted her chest. She had to get out of here. Standing up, she crossed the room swiftly to the door and seized the handle, giving it a brisk push. Nothing happened. Taking a deep breath to keep herself from panicking, she pulled on the handle instead. The door didn't move. With a cry of frustration, she slapped at the smoked glass with her open palm and rattled the door.
A noise behind her made her turn. Nelson was approaching her, a look of concern on his face. "Open this door," she told him, feeling tears beginning to fill her eyes. When he made no move to help her, she shouted "Open it! You can't keep me here! You've got to let me out!" With a strength borne of fear, she turned back to the door and tried once again to escape its confines.
Although she fought with all her strength, she was unable to escape. Finally, exhausted, she sank to her knees and leant her head against the immovable object, tears running down her cheeks.