Space

A little over a week ago, a friend lost his dad. He had a chronic condition, but it wasn't dire yet. He didn't expect to lose him so fast. He was his dad's caregiver, so my friend's life will never be the same.

What struck me was watching what happened last night. I went by the pub down the street after the birthday party, My friend deejays there and working seems to keep his mind off of being sad. I had left a card for him the night before, so he hugged and thanked me. Then he told me about the poor care the hospital where his dad passed provided. He thinks the hospital may be partially to blame for his dad's death. While he was telling me this, my friend was strong. Confident. Determined.

By the end of the night, he was a mess. The friend who went with me to the birthday party and I looked up and saw him sobbing. One of the pub's regular drunk women had her arms around him. His arms were folded in front of him with no acknowledgment of her.

I couldn't watch this scene continue, so I interrupted. "Would you like a cigarette?"

"Yes," he answered and broke away from her embrace. Even though he doesn't know the cigarette save code word, he seemed to get it.

Then I had to figure out where to get a cigarette for him since I don't smoke.

Not one minute later, the woman came back and was all over him again.

"He needs space," I said to her.

"No he doesn't." She turned around and snapped. "He asked for me." By now, two other drunk regulars swooped in like vultures on roadkill. They know he's a single guy who probably doesn't want to go home to an empty place.

I looked on from a distance but didn't intervene. I was tired and I had a chilly walk home ahead. This time, he's on his own. I thought about him today and hoped he made it through the night okay or at least happier.

Love to the single girls,
Addison