Chapter 9: Meeting Michael.

The bar was packed with customers. It was late, and the lighting was dim. The clock at the entrance read 11:00 PM. Adex occupied a table and sat alone. An empty chair faced him. He appeared unconcerned by the crowd. Eight empty liquor bottles were lined up in front of him. His eyes were vacant, and he fidgeted constantly, which are signs of intoxication.

He concentrated on the dance floor, where two couples moved gently to the soft music of the moment. Their laughter and movements made the hollowness he felt inside even deeper. He took a deep breath and gazed at the empty bottles before him.

A presence caught his attention as he was about to look forward again.

He was greeted with frowns from a middle-aged man in his eighties. He wore a white suit that was precisely cut and glittered in the subdued lighting. The jacket was enhanced with sophisticated stitching on the cuffs and lapels, making it more graceful. The suit was complemented by his white leather boots and hard-pressed white trousers that sparkled.

His face was quiet and dignified, and his expression was calm but firm, framed by his neatly combed white hair. His composed look was enhanced by a well-groomed white beard that covered his chin. The suit was perfect for him, and it was crisp and spotless, with fine stitching on the edges that gave it a sophisticated look. His white boots were polished and matched by the sharp crease of his trousers, both glistening gently under the club's dim lights. Despite the cold reception, he maintained his poise with unwavering strength, and his presence alone commanded respect.

Adex spoke at once, his voice firm but somewhat raspy. "This seat is occupied. I prefer not to have anyone sitting near me."

The man smiled. He pushed the chair back and said gently, "Son, sometimes the seat we believe is taken is meant to be shared."

Adex chuckled to himself and shook his head. "Cut the jokes, old man. Leave me alone." He took a sip of liquor from his cup.

The man did not leave. He remained seated, studying Adex with an expression of patience and understanding. "Drowning in a sea of liquor won't make the pain go away," he finally said.

Adex clenched his jaw. "You don't know me well enough to advise me. I will tell you again, leave me alone."

The man sighed. With his palms resting on the tabletop, he leaned in and asked, "Tell me, boy, what troubles you so deeply?"

The warmth of the old man's voice penetrated through Adex's haze. Despite the alcohol dulling his senses, something about the man's calm, gentle tone resonated with him. Adex was strongly urged to say something offensive, yet he could not. He was captivated by the man's kind, weathered eyes. In that quiet moment, the walls he had built around his suffering crumbled away.

At last, Adex sighed heavily. "I've lost her," he muttered.

The man stayed quiet, his patience a subtle invitation. "Who did you lose?"

"My girlfriend, Lydia," Adex continued, his voice trembling. "She died in an accident. Something I could have prevented, but I chose to ignore the signs. Maybe she would be alive if I had followed my instincts."

His fingers curled around the empty bottle as he recalled that tragic evening. "We were very close. I loved and cherished her dearly. Now, she's parted ways with me."

The elderly man nodded with a serious expression, his face reflecting genuine sympathy. After a moment of thought, he spoke softly, "Although the heart may never fully heal from the loss of someone we cherish, it slowly becomes more able to handle the burden." He leaned in slightly. "There's an old saying: 'When the wind whispers, the wise man listens.' Your mind spoke in whispers, and wisdom lies in learning to listen."

Adex gazed down, his throat tight. The gentleman's words had profound resonance.

Adex folded his arms. "I don't know what to do anymore. I wish I could turn back time." He sobbed softly.

The elderly man sighed, his features heavy with wisdom. "Longing for the past is like holding smoke in your hands." He carefully examined Adex before adding, "It slips away. However, the tighter you hold it, the more you lose it."

The elderly man continued. "If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?" the man asked.

Adex didn't hesitate. "I would bring Lydia back."

The elderly man smiled warmly, though his eyes carried a quiet sorrow. "That is the voice of a heart in pain," he said softly. "It is full of love, yet it struggles to see the truth." He rested his hand gently on the table. "Changing fate is not simple. If we spent our lives trying to reshape it, we would never truly live."

Adex's eyes filled with unshed tears. "What should I do now?" he asked, his voice trembling.

The elderly man's smile remained kind yet firm. He continued, "Honor her. Live for her. But most importantly, learn from this pain. Let it teach you. Listen to your instincts and the quiet voice that guides you toward what is right."

Adex wiped his tears away and exhaled deeply. "And if I fail? If I can't move forward?"

The elderly man's gaze softened. "Then you will be trapped in a past that no longer exists. Chasing shadows that will never return. The dead do not ask us to suffer in their place. They want us to remember them but do not want us to live in sorrow."

Adex remained silent, absorbing the weight of the man's words.

"Pain is a teacher, boy. If you listen closely, it will shape you, refine you, and make you stronger. But if you let it consume you, it will destroy you. The choice is always yours."

Adex paused and grasped the edge of the table slowly. "Where do I start? I can't love again. She was my life, hope, and… the only light in my darkness."

The elderly man leaned in closer, his voice gentle yet firm. "One step at a time. Start by putting down the bottle. Step outside. Breathe in the night air. And when you wake up tomorrow, choose something different from what brought you here tonight. Even if it's just a small thing, make it count."

Adex sat back, considering his words. The storm in his chest calmed just a little.

"I wish I could move on from these endless tears," Adex murmured, his voice trembling. His eyes were glistening with pain, and he tightened his fists. "I am struggling with the unbearable misery and the cruel way the world has broken me." 

"Take responsibility for your choices; you're the source of your misery. Accept full responsibility," the elderly man said softly but firmly, his gaze steady and unwavering. Adex couldn't meet his eyes. He looked down, burdened by guilt.

"You're putting all of this on me?" Adex's voice was low and rough, tinged with disbelief. "Are you claiming everything that happened that day was my fault?"

"I didn't mean to ignore the whispers in my thoughts… I regret it so much," Adex whispered through his sobs.

"Only you can shape your future, and only you can try to mend the past," the elderly man said calmly. "You still have a chance to make things right. Perhaps your deepest wish has yet to come true."

Adex looked up, confused. Then, he felt a shift within—a glimmer of understanding and hope.

"Who are you?" Adex asked softly.

The man stood and adjusted his suit. "My name is Michael," he said. "I understood your pain more than you can imagine. We will see each other often, but for now, hold tightly to your fate."

Adex's voice trembled. "I might never love again."

"Go home," Michael whispered. "Something beyond your imagination awaits."

Adex dropped his head in silence. When he looked up again, Michael had disappeared. His eyes searched the bar, but the man in the white suit was nowhere to be found. A chill ran down his spine. He quickly stood and scanned the room. He was missing. He looked puzzled and wondered, 'Who is he?' and 'Why did he disappear so suddenly?' These thoughts kept running through his mind, and his breathing became more rapid.

Adex reached out and tapped the shoulder of a bartender carrying a tray of drinks.

Pardon me! He exclaimed, his voice strained. "Did you see the man sitting here talking to me? I can't find him anywhere in the bar."

The bartender stared at him in amazement. "What man?"

Adex's expression changed. "The elderly man!" He pointed at the empty chair in front of him. "He sat in this chair, talking to me."

The barman chuckled and shook his head. Sir, you've been sitting alone all evening talking to yourself. No elderly man has entered your company.

Adex felt a chill. Looking around, he observed the interested looks of close customers before they returned to their conversations.

"No… I wasn't alone," he said, his voice shaking. He pointed at the chair Michael had been sitting in earlier. "He was here; right there!"

The bartender sighed. "You've had too many drinks for the night." He shook his head and walked away.

Adex's thoughts were filled with confusion. He slumped into his seat and gazed at the bare chair. He was sure he hadn't imagined it. Despite everything else, a calm certainty arose. This was only the beginning.

He stood up and made his way to the door. He would soon discover what awaited him at home.