.....

There I was in a bar on Christmas Eve . I had finally got a job although my mom and girlfriend didn't like it . But what could they do I was 19 now . I could do anything I wanted. I had worked on Christmas Eve to avoid talking to my mom about quitting this job. I had only worked here for two months, I needed to save more so I had to work overtime.

And also my mom was busy with her new rich husband so she didn't have a lot of time for me since they were in love and all that shit.

I liked it here at Shego's Bar it was a new bar opened about 6months ago so I was one of there first long lasting employees they paid a lot of money compared to what my job was (just serving people their drinks. I really liked it here it wasn't so busy meaning I had a lot time for relaxing .

It was now 10:30pm no customers were coming in, the bar was almost empty.

I spotted a guy in the corner. He was surrounded with a lot of bottles he was literally drunk but he still wanted more I think he was depressed or something . This particular guy was our regular customer for the last 2months I'd worked there. He would be the first to come and the last to leave everyday except on weekends where he wouldn't come .

I walked closer to him .

" Hey sir we are gonna close soon " I said in a calm polite voice .

He raised his head and looked at me. His face was buried under a lot of facial hair I wondered the last time he had shaved. It made him look older but when you took a closer look at him he looked young say maybe around 23. He also had a broad body the shirt he was wearing was showing his muscles, all that aside he looked a mess, wasted in fact

" Just one more " he said in a drunk voice sounding like a maniac then gulped down half a tequila bottle .

Just looking at him made me feel a little concerned, why was I feeling concerned about him I literally didn't know him. I went back to the counter but I stole a glance back where he was sitting. He was still gulping down the bottles like nothing.

That made me feel more concerned " What's wrong with you ? " I scolded myself for worrying about a stranger. It was non of my business. Or is it because I once felt the same thing he is going through. No I don't think. I looked around the bar few people some drunk to the extent they didn't know where they were. I wasn't going to be busy anytime soon.

I walked back to where he was sitting. I sat facing him. He looked at me surprised. But then gulped down another bottle and looked the other side.

I looked through his eyes they had pain in them, a lot of it. He looked depressed .

" Hey " I said to him .

He looked at me for a while and said " Hey " then looked the other side .

" You look depressed " I said.

He looked again at me for a while but didn't say anything he again picked up the bottle and poured a lot for himself then took a sip .

" Is it a girl problem " I said .

He didn't reply me just kept drinking .

" You know it's not healthy drinking the way you are right now "I commented.

He looked at me irritated." What's the benefit of dying healthy, everyone will die one day " he said while drinking.

That statement only made me lose words.

" Is it a girl that caused you this " I asked again.

" Like you care " he said arrogantly.

I ignored his attitude .

" What are you doing here on Christmas Eve alone " I asked to change the topic .

He looked at me surprised or rather shocked.

" What ! Did I say something wrong ? " I asked immediately .

He shook his head side ways but didn't say a word just continued drinking .

" If you don't let it out or talk to someone you will always be depressed for the rest of your life " I said .

He didn't react or say anything .

" You know ever since I started working here I've been seeing you here... you are the first customer to enter here and you are the last to leave " I said .

He didn't react he just kept drinking .

It was as if I was talking to myself.

" Girls can be confusing sometimes " I said trying to create a conversation with him .

He didn't say anything, he just took another sip. He was starting to irritate me.

" You know love is...." I was saying when he cut me off .

" Stupid... " he smiled foolishly .

" ...slow painful death " he added and opened another bottle.

He poured in a glass and offered to me but I refused.

" More for me " he gulped it down and let out a heavy breath.

He got out his phone to check the time .

" It's still so early " he said and placed it on the table .

He then took another huge sip on the drink .

I took a quick look at his phone on the table, I saw a photo of him and a girl pecking his cheek as the wallpaper the girl was in yellow blouse and he was in a black T-shirt in that photo he looked... decent compared to what he looked like now.

" What's her name ? " I said pointing to the phone .

He immediately grabbed his phone and put it in his pocket.

He took another sip on the drink. The way he frowned meant that what he was drinking wasn't sweet at all. Although I worked at a bar I never really liked drinking, much.

" How is it ?" I asked.

He pointed to the drink. I nodded my head.

" It sucks..." he said and took another sip "...but not as much as my life " he smiled forcefully. Damn this guy was really hurting.

" At least now I don't have to worry about someone else, right ....I'm all alone " he mumbled and lifted up his bottle.

" Life is so unfair " he complained again. That's when I found out that it was the alcohol now talking.

" Life is a bitch " he screamed no one cared most people in the bar were already drunk .

" What's her name " I said after a moment of hearing him cursing the world and his life.

" That's non of your business " he said arrogantly.

I mean come on. I had sat there and tried to talk to him I even bared with him while he cursed his life and he still wouldn't tell me.

" Oh my God what I'm I even doing here I should just prepare to go back home he may even think I'm nosey " I said to myself

" Merry Christmas " I said to him and gave him a pitiful smile and stood up to leave .

" It's Eve " he said .

" Huh, what ! ofcourse it's Christmas Eve" I said, he was mentioning the obvious .

" That's her name... Eve Naki " he said looking down smiling.

" Eve Naki " I repeated the name mentally .

" She loved you " I asked him sitting down again .

" yeah...but not the way I wanted her to " he sighed .

" what ? " I didn't understand what he was talking about. He kept silent .

" Where is she now ? " I asked

" In a happy place " he said and half smiled .

" Is she... dead ? " was the first thing that popped in my head and I asked him .

He nodded his head sideways and drunk some more.

" What happened to her...where is she now " I couldn't help but ask.

He smiled .

" If you want me to tell you that you should listen to the whole story "

" Huh ! sure ofcourse " I said and checked the time .

I was eager to know his story .

" Where should I begin from " he said asking himself more than me .

" From the beginning I guess...how you met her " I said now eager to hear the whole story .

He nodded his head and said slowly " well...Eve was a special girl... she was amazing, the only girl I ever truly loved or ever will... " he said smiling. "...and of course my...best friend " he said and squized the bottle in his hand tighter .

" I met her when I was 7 on a really bad day "

I looked at him puzzled but he continued

" That's when everything started...

~to be continued*********

It was a really hot afternoon and I remember it'd rained in the morning but now the sun shined like never before. I hadn't slept or eateb the previous night and I was really tired and hungry.

I was so little yet I understood what all that was going on.

My papa was dead. He had been in the hospital for over 2years at least that's how far I could remember .

People all around me crying some faces farmiliar and others totally new, I hadn't dropped a single tear, people lookef at me with sympathy, pity. I don't know why I couldn't cry. I loved my papa.

Mom had spent a lot of money on his treatment that year I had even stopped going to school because of it, but as they say if it's meant to be it'll be.

I remember I looked at my mom and she looked awful her eyes sore and dry yet she kept on crying she used her long silk black dress to try and rub her tears .

" Your father is gone Will " she said while hugging me tightly crying. Maybe she thought I was in shock that's why I wasn't crying . She kept on weeping and hugging me. " It's okay mom " I remember saying to her .

She was crying and no one among the family members came to soothe her. It was me her 7-year old boy who calmed her down.

" Lisa I'm here " I heard a woman saying behind me.

My mom wept away her tears and stood up then held my hand and went over to the woman .

" Lola you came " she said as tears again welled up in her eyes .

" Ofcourse honey... I wouldn't leave you alone " Lola said in a soft concerned voice tone. I looked at Lola she was a tall woman a bit taller than my mom dressed in a fancy black long dress and a black purse on her slang on her shoulder complemented by little shinny jewellery. She looked amazing and I remember thinking she looked like my mom before papa got sick. In her other hand she was holding a little girl who looked around my age. She was wearing a black flower dress, a necklace with a small blue gem around her neck her hair short and black. She looked like a little cute cartoon character her lips tomato red you would think she applied lip stick.

" Let's go " Lola said after my mom had cried a bit on her shoulder . Me and the little girl just looked at each other confused.

Lola squatted down and pinched her daughter's cheek gently .

" Eve sweetie... stay here with Will, me and your auntie Lisa are coming back soon okay "

" Okay mommy " the little girl who's name I'm guessed was Eve said. A bright smile on her face. Lola smiled back at her then stood up. I watched my mom and Lola who I'm guessed was my aunt go, to put my dad six feet under .

Kids weren't allowed there mostly me maybe because they thought that that image of seeing my dad the last time would haunt me .

I sat at the bench next to me still confused I somehow couldn't believe my dad had died.

Eve came and sat next to me at the bench .

" I'm Eve " she said all cheerful while touching her chest. I ignored her and kept on staring to the direction mom had gone to .

" You're William, right " she said .

I looked at her wondering how she knew my name when I had never seen her before. Looking at her closely I noticed she had deep blue eyes matching the gem she was wearing around her neck.

I nodded .

" Is that your Dad " she pointed to a picture of my dad which was in the far corner. He was in a black suit smiling . I wondered whether he was also smiling right now wherever he was .

I nodded my head .

" aren't you sad ?" she asked looking at me .

I turned my head and looked at her.

" I... don't.. . know " I responded meekly. I don't know whether it was her question or me . I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. That's when it hit me , my dad was gone.....

He wasn't coming back, ever.

As the limited memories of the time I spent with my dad flashed my mind. I felt someone passing a soft cloth on my cheeks weeping away my tears .

I looked side ways only seeing Eve .

" Don't cry it will be okay " she said as her big bright blue eyes welled up too . I wondered why.

She gave me her handkerchief and I wept away my tears.

She reached her pocket and got out a piece of candy and split it in two. She stretched her hand with the two parts of the candy one bigger than the other .

" Pick.. . its really sweet " she said.

They say there's is a particular moment you fall in love for me it was this one.

Believe me or not a seven year old can fall in love.

Maybe it was because she was the only one who had showed some care for me besides my mom or maybe her generosity or maybe her blue eyes. I can't really tell.

But this was it. She gave me a sweet. . . No, half a sweet and I gave her my heart. So come to think of it, I traded my heart over for half a sweet.

I hesitated . " ...you pick one " she said again .

I chose the small one . I really wanted to choose the big one but mom had taught me not to be greedy .

I put it my mouth and indeed it was sweet . Probably the sweetest thing I had tasted in the whole week .

She smiled seeing my reaction.

~to be continued****

Mom and Auntie Lola came back after my dad was put six feet under.

She was not crying any more but her eyes were still red and sore .

" How are you two ? " Auntie Lola said to us .

" We ate candy mommy " Eve said her voice cheerful and annoying.

" Really, do you want some more "

" No mommy I want ice cream now " she whined .

" Hmmm... okay let's go for ice cream " Auntie Lola said and smiled at Eve .

" Yah " Eve said and clapped her little hands .

" What about you Will ?" she asked me .

I nodded my head .

We went to there car and went for ice cream .

" Mhmm... I want strawberry...no chocolate...no vanilla..." Eve couldn't decide what she wanted .

The guy at the counter turned to me seeing she was unsure of what she wanted . Eve also turned to me .

" Strawberry " I said randomly .

" I want Vanilla " she said finally .

They brought in the orders. The ice cream looked very tasty yet so beautiful to even eat.

" Eat your ice cream William, me and your auntie are over there " My mom said and pointed outside the ice cream shop .

I nodded my head .

I watched them as they talked they had gone outside because they didn't want us to hear what they were saying.

" Aren't you gonna eat your ice cream " Eve said ice cream on her face .

I took a bite on the ice cream but it didn't taste as good as it looked maybe it was because I was having a bad day .

Seeing me just playing with my ice cream Eve said " You don't like it "

" No,you can have it " I said probably the first words since we came from the funeral .

" Thank you " she said with a bright smile .

***

" Mom is she my cousin " I asked my mom as soon as Auntie Lola had dropped us home and Eve was waving me goodbye .

" No sweetie...her mom is your mommy's best friend " my mom said and pinched my cheek.

How I wish that's the last day I had to see her maybe things would've been better.

I entered the house with mom .

The house seemed normal since Dad was in the hospital for two years and in those two years we had been living alone with mom. It didn't seem empty.

But I still had this feeling that one day I'd wake up and find him with mom talking, laughing, that I would wake up and find him reading the news like he always did, but he was gone, forever. I cried some more and mom soothed me.

The next day mom and I went to my kindergarten school so that I could resume my studying .

I only went to school after two weeks when I was less sad. I had a problem making friends since I was a quiet kid. I wouldn't play with anyone I would just stay in class for the whole day until the bus took me home .

Then one day I came back from school. I found Auntie Lola sitting with my mom in the sitting room conversing .

" Oh hey Will, back already how was your day " my mom asked me with a smile .

" It was good " I said and went to take my bag to my room .

I found Eve playing with my toys ,she was holding a plastic car.

I didn't mind her I just put my bag on the bed.

" Are these yours " she asked lifting up some toys .

" Yes " I said .

" Will... Eve... can you come here " I heard Auntie Lola call .

" Yess mommy...Eve said and rushed down " I followed.

" Eve dear you are gonna study in the same school with Will " Auntie Lola said with a smile on her face .

" Yah I'm gonna study with Will " she said and held my hand.

" Now go and play there in that park " My mom said and pointed through the window .

A park just next to our house. I rarely went there. I couldn't go alone and when I went there it was very boring but then I could play with Eve .

We went to the park and this time it wasn't as boring as usual. I really enjoyed it. Well Eve was really talkative but I could live with that .

I got to know that Eve and her Family were living in New York but they had decided to move back. Her mom had grown up from the house next ours but then she went to New York but now she was back. We were immediate neighbors.

~to be continued...