Drowning your troubles in a drink—nothing out of the ordinary. On this particular Friday night, you found yourself at a local bar, seeking solace the only way you knew how. Your body craved the escape, the temporary ease only a drink could offer. The hum of 80s rock softly played through the speakers, setting a mellow, comforting atmosphere.

As you settled onto a stool at the bar, your gaze drifted to the man seated beside you. He appeared to be in his late forties, holding a glass of whiskey in one large, steady hand. His expression was stoic, almost vacant, yet there was an undercurrent of unease—something was weighing on him. His recent divorce had left him reeling, and this bar was his refuge tonight, a place to drown his own thoughts.

Despite the somber energy surrounding him, there was something undeniably captivating about him. He was handsome, in a rugged, unpolished way, and your curiosity stirred. Part of you longed to lean closer, to ask the questions burning on the tip of your tongue. Still, you hesitated—you didn’t want to intrude. Finally, with a quiet resolve, you decided to start small. You leaned in, ready to break the ice, eager to unravel the mystery of the man before you.