You hadn't noticed when they walked in, in fact you hadn't noticed they even existed until they were calling out to you, asking where their drinks where. All you do is nod and smile while getting them what they want, occasionally casting a glance around the rest of the bar but realizing that aside from the two newcomers, there was no one who needed you, or interested you for that matter.
They were talking now, those two strangers, talking about a hospital, about a girl and her funeral, about love. It didn't surprise you, one of them looked like he was falling apart, well not at first glance he didn't but you had an eye for these things. People came to you all the time that weren't willing to admit that something was tearing away at them. It was funny with this guy though, when you look at him you can see that he's got to be heartbroken but at the same time there's something relieved about him.
Then you laugh, remembering the funeral. It wasn't relief you saw, it was closure.
They look at you; you've been staring after all, and give a confused look. They probably weren't discussing a laughing matter, actually come to think of it; they'd been quiet for the passed few seconds, just watching you as you watched them. You smile apologetically and ask if there's anything else you can get them; a drink, some nuts, a piece of advice.
They smile and the other one, the one whose idea it probably was to come here in the first place, shakes his head. They're fine, he says, but maybe two more drinks would be nice. You nod and get to work, listening in again as they sit in silence, both of them probably loosing themselves in the alcohol you give them and memories.
Actually, now that you think of it, the other one really doesn't look that upset. Well he did but you thought it was for a different reason. When you looked at him, you didn't see grief, you saw…helplessness. He wanted to comfort the other one but couldn't quite figure out what he should do.
You're tempted to open your mouth but you don't. It's not your place and they haven't even invited you into the conversation like most of the others do. So all you do is stand and smile.
The heartbroken one looks up then, taking a deep breath and standing up. He says he doesn't want to stay here anymore, that he can still smell the hospital, that he needs to get away.
The other one bites his lip but doesn't say anything. He looks confused, like he's not quite sure what he should be doing. Standing up as well, he tries to calm the other down, telling him that they can leave whenever they want, just let him pay for the drinks.
You laugh a little, "Don't worry." The words are out of your mouth before you can stop them. "Consider it on the house; you've got more important things to think on. Just go."
Without another word they listen to you, grabbing their things and heading outside. You don't know where they're headed and you know you'll never see them again. Soon someone else calls you over and you realize that, not only will you never see them again, they never really saw you to begin with.