He abruptly woke up covered in drops of cold sweat. The clock at his nightstand marked one o'clock in the morning. He stood up and approached his fridge with the hopes of finding the thing that would take away his headache.

But luck was not on his side for the only thing that was inside was a half eaten sandwich that he bought at a deli. With reluctance, Johnny changed his clothes and grabbed his keys in order to go to the one place where he would surely get the thing that he was desperately craving for.

.

.

.

Alexa was having some fun listening to the story that Tina was sharing.

"… and then his face resembled a tomato after I exposed how wrong his actions were towards you."

"Wow, I'm sure Sal didn't take well the fact that you called him out."

Tina shrugged. "I was just saying the truth, honey."

The bartender started to laugh but was soon interrupted once she saw a tall guy walking in.

"Johnny?"

His breathing seemed agitated while his face showed his bloodshot eyes. She circled the counter and approached him. "Are you alright?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I just need something to drink."

She took him by the elbow and placed him at his usual spot. "Here." She handed him a bottle of beer. It took more time for her to give it to him because she immediately received a now empty container. Not a single drop was left.

"Another one."

Alexa wasn't sure about it, but she decided to replace it with a new one only for it to be handed back just like the one before.

"Another…"

But instead of fulfilling his wish, Alexa went to the back of the room where she opened a door.

"Where…?"

"Come with me."

"Didn't you hear me? I said another one."

"And I said 'come with me'".

Johnny mumbled under his breath and did what was told. As he entered the room, Alexa turned on the lights to reveal what was inside. Johnny blinked to adjust his sight. He noticed a desk with some papers on it along with a few pictures hanged at the wall. But what caught his eyes was a bunching bag located at the corner.

"What is this…?"

"My office. You can find some gloves and bandages inside the second drawer".

He followed her finger which was pointing at a wooden furniture.

"Take as much time as you need." She returned to the bar and closed the door to leave him in private. Johnny didn't move from where he was standing.

"You've got to be kidding me…".

So what now? Is this some kind of therapy where I just simply let out my emotions like some nerd?

He studied the hanging sack for a moment. His fist made contact with the worn-out object. And then his other fist collided with it. Before he knew what was happening, Johnny was now engaged in a personal fight between his knuckles and the bag. His muscles contracted by the massive energy produced by the rage that had been kept hidden for the past months.

His anger and sorrow were sending an enormous amount of adrenaline through his veins. As he gathered speed, the sack drifted farther away only to come back for an increasingly powerful blow.

Johnny kept this rhythm for a while until his knuckles where stained with a crimson liquid and salty drops blurred his vision.

.

.

.

Alexa had started to clean Johnny's hands that were filled with his blood. "I told you there was a gear in there."

"Yeah, yeah," replied Johnny while trying to free one of his palms that would help him get his drink. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?", asked Johnny.

"Well," Alexa wrapped a bandage around Johnny's hand, "my mother studied to become a doctor, and she taught me a few things, plus," she threw away the stained gauze, "I've ended up with my hands the same as yours for a couple of times". She padded his shoulder to let him know that she had finished.

Johnny looked at Alexa's work and smirked. "So now you're some kind of guardian angel, huh?"

"I don't think an angel would run a business that makes profit by selling one of the most sacred vices of humankind."

"I bet to differ on that with you…".

She shocked her head as she put away the rest of her first aid kit. "I know it's none of my concern, but did you manage to clear your mind in there?"

Johnny observed how his fingers flexed so as to avoid some eye contact. "Yeah, I guess so…".

"Do you need a ride to your place?"

"Thanks Alexa."

"No problem. Just let me put some stuff in order and close the bar, and then we'll be going".

.

.

.

As they pulled over in front of his building, Johnny turned to face Alexa. "Thank you for lending me your office. It sure was a nice way to distract myself."

"Sure, just make sure to be more careful the next time," mentioned Alexa as she nodded towards his injure.

Johnny chuckled and stepped outside.

"Hey, Johnny!"

He stopped and turned around.

"What are your plans for this Saturday?"

"Other than grabbing a beer at your bar? Nothing much, really."

"Well, now you do," smiled Alexa and turned on her Mustang. "I'll pick you up in the morning. Try to sleep well."

"Alright. Good night Alexa". He started to walk until he remembered to ask something. "Wait! You didn't say at what time…".

But she was already gone.

"Shit…".