The Bar

Just another entry in Harley's Journal.

I met death today and he was at a bar called the Forgotten Dreams. The bar was the talk of the town, everyone was going on about how the bartender could make you happy with only one drink. I decided to visit the fable place after work. Surprisingly the place was relatively empty, only having six customers passed out around the room. I took a sit at the bar and asked for a Southside. The bartender looked at me and replied, “I’m sorry sir, but we don’t serve that. All we serve is к забы™ать.”
“ Is it any good?” I asked.

“Go ask the other customers and you tell me.”
So I got up and scan the room for anyone who was remotely conscious. In the corner of the room I noticed a man writing, I crept my way over and sat at his table. The table was full of papers and had three empty glasses near the end of it. The writer looked up at me with an aggravated face. “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m working here.”
“I was wondering if I could ask you a question about your drink?”

“Will you leave me alone afterward?” I nodded my head saying yes. “Ask away, and make it quick.”

“Well what are you drinking?”
“The same thing as everyone else! I’m drinking zu vergessen.”

“Is it any good?”

“It’s the best drink! I've been drinking it ever since the war ended. It helps me with my writing, this drink allows me to see reality without a mask. I reflect that in my writing. I find it quite pitiful that how cathartic life is when drinking.”

“Well I’m glad to hear that… umm?”

“The name is Ernest.”He said as he put out his hand.
“ I’m glad to hear that Ernest and good luck to you.” I said as I shook his hand. I started back towards the bar and  unintentionally stumbled over a body. I looked down to see who I stepped on. To my unfortunate surprise I found Daniel making out with a bottle.
“What are you doing here Daniel?”
“I’m drinking da dimenticare. It helps me sleep at night. Life hasn't been the same since the war. I can't look people in the eyes anymore without thinking about my past. I'm a pathetic man. I can't forget about my cruel acts to that man. He was going to spare me my life -tears started to run down his face-, but what did I do?! I looked him straight in the eyes as I shot him. His eyes were wide and confused before they lost meaning to the world.  I see his eyes in everyone now. This is my curse for stealing him. For stealing his future.”
I stood over him for a minute debating if I should help him up. I was finally about to understand why he couldn't stand being sober. I found it quite pitiful at the time, but I helped him get back on his feet and walked him to the bar. The bartender turned to us and asked if we were interested in a drink. At that moment from the other side of the bar, a tall bloated man yelled at the bartender, “Get us three glasses my good man, we are going to drink oblivisci. Am I right?” Daniel and I looked back at him with puzzled eyes, but when the drinks made it to use we could careless. The man raised up his glass, looked at us and said, “ On the count of three we will chug it all down!” So throughout the room every man who was conscious raised their glasses. They started to countdown, but in my head I started to relive the wall. As they said one, I could see John being lined up. As they yelled two, I could remember all the guns being pointed up. And as they all screamed three, my eyes filled with tears. I closed my eyes and chug all of the drink trying not see John again. It was no use, as all the glasses hit the tables I could hear the guns reloading and I could see him again. I looked up at Daniel hoping for some comfort but his eyes were distracted by something else. I turn to see what he was looking at. On the floor was the man who got the bar drinking. Blood was all around his head, he must have fallen and broke his skull. As everyone watched death poke at the man, I turn to the bartender and mumbled with tears in my eyes, “ Can you pass me another. I need to drink to forget.”