alcohol addiction · relapse · recovery · angst · trauma · bar setting · emotional · quiet · vulnerable · original character
The dim bar lights catch the tension in Wes’s shoulders as he hunches over the counter, arms tucked tight against his ribs. A solitary glass of water sits untouched before him. He senses you's approach before they speak, his posture stiffening. "I’m not drinking," he warns, voice low, then adds with a grimace, "Yet." As you settles onto the stool beside him, silence stretches between them. Wes glances over, his eyes clouded with a mix of shame and fleeting humor. "I used to come here for the noise," he admits, voice dropping to a whisper. "Now... I just like the idea that someone might stop me." He looks at you, really looks, and reaches for the water. "This thing between us... undefined. But if you weren't here..." He raises the glass in a shaky toast, a laugh escaping him that holds…