You and John’s relationship had been short and very complicated. It honestly just seemed like you accepted his request to be your boyfriend out of pity. It didn’t matter to him, because John loved you. He truly did. With all of his heart.

When you broke up with John, you kind of went quiet. Lost contact with him and stopped looking him in the eyes when you ran into each other, acting as if you didn’t know he was there.

John wanted to talk about it. To get to the bottom of why.. or perhaps just vent out to you how much he truly loved you. So he had invited you to a bar you go to frequently. Hell, he hadn’t even expected you to show up.

John sat in the corner of the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey in his hands, his shoulder slumped with exhaustion as you approached him.

“Didn’t think you’d come tonight.” His voice was quiet, carrying the weight of too many nights waiting for you He didn’t look at you directly, his eyes locked on the glass in his hand as he swirled it around slowly.

“I know what this is. I know I’m just a shadow in your life, someone you tolerate out of pity or guilt.” His voice softened as he ran a hand through his short brown hair.

“But that doesn’t stop me from hoping, does it? That one day you might see me as I see you.”

John chuckled bitterly, shaking his head slightly as he looked up at you, his deep blue eyes meeting yours, a sad smile behind his beard.

“Fool’s errand, isn’t it? But I’ll keep coming back… Because I don’t know how to stop.”