The Bad and Broken

Aria hadn't let go of the divorce papers since she left the house. They remained clenched tightly in her hand as she stared down at her husband's signature at the bottom. Her husband of only three years was divorcing her... and the reason was all because she just wasn't good enough for him. She just never satisfied him like their neighbour's wife did. So they were planning on ditching their partners for each other, with no regard of their feelings. "One Hot Savana, here you go." the bartender said as he slid the drink towards her, next to the two open and empty bottles of wine that she drowned herself in for the past two hours. Aria took it without a second thought and chugged it down her throat, wincing at the burn in her throat before gasping for air as her throat sizzled She needed it, the pain, the illusions, and the distortions... It all helped ease the bitter feeling inside of her. How could he have done this to her? She kept his bed warm, embraced him with her body every night when he asked, she had done everything by the book, submissive, obedient, tolerant... Trying to become the perfect wife still didn't work out in the end for her. "Should I call your husband to come pick you up again?" the Bartender chuckled as he leaned onto the table. "I don't have a husband anymore." Aria sighed and smacked the papers onto the counter. "I'm being cheated on and getting divorced. I don't want to go back there either... I could still smell her in there." She shook her head and took another chug of the drink before wincing again. "I have nowhere to go tonight." Her voice came out low, cracked, and almost inaudible as she begun turning the glass around just as the sound of bells echoed the room. The bartender leaned from the counter as his eyes darted to the familiar build by the door. The tall figure that stood at the door, shrouded by the darkness around him, matching his black ripped jeans that hugged his thick thighs and a leather jacket stretched over his large biceps wasn't easy to miss. The bartender knew exactly who he was, and he was trouble. The figure placed what seemed to be a helmet by the door and brushed off some water on his shoulder. It must been showering that evening, but not enough to convince him not to have a drink himself. The bartender quickly turned from Aria and began working on his drink as he saw him approaching the counter with his heavy steps that cause the chain around his waist to jingle. "One manhattan and one martini, did I it right?" the bartender offers a smile to the man as he sits down, the sound of the leather bar stool crunched beneath him as he sighed, almost like a deep growl from how tired he was. "Mh." he nodded and grabbed the lemon and martini mix first. He took a bite of the lemon first before washing his mouth off with the martini mix, feeling the warmth and sting and complete combustion of his throat as it slid down. It erupted something in him and he felt it run up his spine as he places the glass back on the counter, pushing it to the bartender. "One more." He said as he held out a finger before switching his attention to the manhattan drink. "Make it a dry martini this time." "Very well sir." Trying to find something to occupy his eyes with, his eyes dropped onto Aria who had been silent since he walked into the room. It's not that she recognized him from anywhere, but she was crying, covering her face with her hands as she sobbed quietly. All the walls were crumbling down on her the more the alcohol consumed her mind and thoughts. Though not willing to invest his time and energy into a stranger's life, he can't help but drop his gaze down to the papers on the counter, staring directly to the one that was closest to him. The words didn't need glasses or magnifying glass as it was right there, at the top. He only nodded to himself and turned to his drink, taking a sip. "A divorce isn't something to cry over. You're making a lot of unnecessary noise doing so." He stated as he stirred his drink. Aria paused and looked over to her side with eyes that were slowly starting to swell. "What?" "You're crying too loudly. Go sit on one of the tables over there." He sighed in irritation as he took another sip of his drink, leaving Aria who watch him in confusion. "I'm sorry if my sadness is irritating you, but I can't help it." She said as she stared at him in disbelief whilst running the back of her hand against her cheek. "It's just a divorce, you'll get over it." He sighed and clicked his tongue just as he finished his drink. "Stop being sensitive." Aria sighed and nodded slowly, feeling deep down that he was right about her intruding on his peace. But her problems were only rising with each second she thought about her soon-to-be ex-husband despite the alcohol in her blood. She needed to stop thinking about him... fast. "One... uh... " She trailed off as she looked up at the menu, wondering if she should create her custom drink like the hot Savana or something more normalized. "Just a shot of whiskey please." The bartender glanced at her worriedly as he had just finished preparing the dry martini for the man sitting beside her. He knew she was way past her limit and is barely keeping her head straight. "You will need to drive home." the bartender said as he walked over to her whilst sliding the glass to the man. "Well, at least walk home considering how much you drunk." "I'm trying... to drown myself." she sighed as she reached her hand up into her hair, clenching it tightly. "Please just one... one more... that's all I ask... I've been a good wife... I've been so loyal... I've listened... I've cooked and cleaned... I've even picked out names for our future children." The man cringes slightly at the latter but doesn't try to involve himself in the conversation between the two. "I've done all I possibly could and he... oh my gosh." she say up and sighed shakily as the tears started to stream down her face. "Does this mean I'm worthless? never going to be good enough? Who would want this?" She waved her hand over her body to emphasize her body as her mascara ran down her cheeks. "I'm like that small piece of cheese at the far end of the deep freezer that I can't seem to reach because my hands are too short." She groaned out, making him sigh in irritation. "I'll get her under control, Jin." the bartender glanced apologetically at the man, Jin, who was clenching his glass a little too tight and the bartender feared for her safety. He knew getting Jin mad was the last thing she wanted. He would make her disappear... Like most of them.