Prologue

Breathing suddenly became impossible as her eyes locked on to those dark orbs. The same eyes that have been permanently etched into her mind. Doe eyes, once shining and full of love, now sharp and void of any emotion as he briefly acknowledged her stoic form; no look of recognition reflected in his eyes. The darkness of the booth nearly consumed him as the only color brushing his skin was that of a flickering neon light that loomed above them. The tension became nearly suffocating as her friend's eyes filled with concern at her abrupt reaction to the man entering the bar. Suddenly becoming all too aware of the tense atmosphere, she faltered. Her eyes collecting with unshed tears as she watched the man she had been waiting for many moons for barely bat an eyelash at her. At that moment she wished for the ground to swallow her whole.

"Do you know her", his friend whispered, elbow harshly making contact with the man's ribcage. "No", he bluntly stated taking a seat next to the elder. His inked fingers swiftly gripped the clear glass sitting idly on the dark wood. Watching as he downed the searing liquid a barely audible, "I don't", fell from his lips. Those two words were all it took for a single tear to fall.