“Yes, that’s me. Thank you so much for informing me about her. I had no idea she would be here,” I said, genuinely grateful. At a place like this, she could fall into the wrong man’s hand. Thank God, this man, who must be a bartender here, turned out to be a gentleman!

“No problem, miss. She’s been here for the last four hours, drinking and crying non-stop. When it was our time to close the bar, we asked her to leave, but she wasn’t in a state to leave alone, so we’d to call you.”

Crying? What happened to her?

“Again, thank you so much for taking care of her until I arrived.” I hurried to her and called out her name.

Blinking her red, swollen eyes at me, recognition flickered over her face as an uneven smile stretched across her lips. “Emmm! You’re ‘ere! I was soooo lonely.” She tugged at my hand. “Come, sit ‘ere! Now we’re going to drink together!”

I brushed her unkempt hair away from her forehead, her cheeks were streaked with dried tears and smudged mascara. She looked like a mess.

What happened to her? God, I hoped everything was all right. I’d talk to her once she was sober. But I needed to get her out of here first.

“No, Beth. You’d had enough drinks for tonight, you aren’t having any more. Let’s go, we’re leaving.” I tried to get her up by her shoulders, but she shrugged me off.

“Nooo, I don’t want to go! Need more drinks, an’ you’ll drink with me,” she slurred. “Hey, you! Gimme another bottle!”

The man shuffled in his place, eying his watch. The whole bar was empty. He was just waiting for us to leave so that he could close the bar.

“Beth! Come on, get up! We need to go!” Forcing her to stand, I wrapped one of her arms around my neck and snaked mine around her waist.

“No! I want a drink!” she complained but walked along with me, with swaying legs.

“I’ll give you one once we’re home. Now let’s go,” I said, glancing at the man. He asked if I needed help, but I refused. Paying her bill, I thanked him again and carried her out of the bar.

Once outside, I glanced around, leading her the way my car was parked. Some wobbling figures appeared and disappeared around the corners.

As I dragged her along, she started crying again, mumbling something incoherent under her breath.

“Shh, Beth. It’s all right. We’re almost there.”

A sudden shiver ran down my spine as I felt eyes on me. My gaze flickered around, but there was no one. Only two dogs passed across the road.