The Seer

 The bartender places another Jack and Coke in front of me. My fifth since I sat down. 

"Thanks, Aiden," I say. Our eyes meet. I see a wrinkled hand holding the wrinkled hand of grey haired woman with gentle eyes. I see a grown man who looks almost identical to Aiden, with his same crooked smile, playing with a toddler on the floor in front of the couch we're sitting on. I can feel his happiness. "How's Jenna?" 

"We broke up a week back, Dex," he said. "Starting to wonder if I'll ever be able to keep a girl, you know."

"Trust me, Aiden. You're going to find a good woman, and she's going to make you happier than you ever thought possible."

Aiden smiled at me as if to say, 'what do YOU know, you old drunk' and went to better paying customers. I looked around to see if I was drunk enough.

I caught the eyes of a tall guy in a cardigan laughing with some friends. I see a lawyer saying, 'I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. She won custody, Jake.' 

In the corner was a brunette in a red dress. She was flirting with a man with long, blonde hair. It was only for a second, but my eyes wandered to hers. I see a dirty, matted mess of blonde hair covering it's owner's face. Their arms outstretched, choking me, as I feel life fade from my body.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I could try. I could walk over there and shoot blondie in the back of the head. Either he would survive, or some other dirty, blonde haired person would do it. What ever happens, will happen. I'm just a witness. I think back to the young man that was here every Wednesday. He had a tattoo of a Hot Wheels track all down his left arm. One night, I bumped into him on the way to the bathroom. I saw a needle sticking out of a checkered flag. He hasn't been here for a month now. I down my drink, and wave for Aiden.

He nods his head at me. He started my drink without asking what it is. He knew what I wanted. A double Jack and Coke with just a splash of Coke. I looked him right in the eye when he brings it over.

"I love you, Aiden," a younger version of the girl with the gentle eyes says. Now her hair is red, and her dress was white. A deep haze surrounds the rest of her. 'Now we're getting somewhere,' I thought.

The haze covered more and more with each drink. Eventually, I made eye contact with plump, but cute woman down the bar. I hear a long, harsh ring, but all I see is fog. 

'Close enough,' I think. Placing a $100 bill under my empty glass, I made my way out the door, and down the street. 

A block or two later I stopped. Vomit erupted from my throat and I bent down, spraying the ground with a dark ichor. When it was all up I started my walk home again. I immediately slipped, and fell into my own vomit. It seemed as good a place as any to sleep.

"Sir, are you okay?" A familiar voice said. I opened my eyes to red haired woman with gentle eyes.

"I had a really good time tonight." The haze covers almost everything. The only thing I can see of the person talking is a crooked smile.

"Is there anyone I can call for you?" The red haired girl said as she helped me up.

"Um, no. Thank you, but I'm alright," I replied as I dug into my pockets for a twenty. "Here. Take this and have a drink on me."

"Oh, no. I don-"

"Please, I insist," I said cutting her off. "I won't take no for an answer. The bar with the blue lights out front. Ask for Aiden at the bar. He's the best bartender in the state."

She thanked me and made her way toward the bar. As I made my way home, I kept looking back at her. I was satisfied when I saw her walk into Aiden's bar. I can't change anything I see. But that doesn't mean I can't pick what to encourage.