One chance at life

The bar hadn't change since the last time they were there. The bartender though was different. The bar was the place he had first seen her. The woman who later became his wife. He was sitting on the same stool she had sat on. She was playing a coin trick with her friends. Her laughter had lit up the room. That was what caught John's attention. That night, he was opposite the room, half drunk but still slugged down more cups of beer.

But for that tiny moment, he was sane. He wanted to have the kind of laughter she possessed. It was pure and genuine. John couldn't remember the last time he was genuinely happy. He felt the cosmos was against him, so his life had been bitter. He drove away most of his friends. For that night, he went home. He didn't want to ruin whatever could happen between them.

He stalked her for weeks hoping to see her in the bar but he didn't and when he finally did, they had easily hit it off. Months later they were married. He got a better job and they moved to another city. Bella didn't know the other side of her husband until a year after their marriage. He was laid off. And the pessimist John was back, he complained about everything, got angry on little details, he refused to pick up menial jobs, it was below him; he would always scream in Bella's face. Then he started drinking, sitting in front of the TV everyday and life moved on.
Bella eventually decided to leave him. She was going to her parent. He didn't care. "Good riddance to bad rubbish" was the reply she got when he told him.

Later that evening the cops pulled up in front of his house. He was drunk as usual.

"I didn't do anythim wrong," he kept stuttering.

"No, you didn't but you are John hallway," a cop inquired.

"Yesss," he said, staggering on his feet.

"There was a car accident today, your wife seem to be amongst the victim. We are so sorry for your loss." They said as they show him some pictures.

He became sober almost immediately and he remembered the first time she saw her, full of life. He had snuffed away her happiness, he thought.

For days he would look at her pictures trying to capture that one smile.He would cry and scream in the middle of the night. The neighbours thought he was going crazy. Now, he's back at bar. Waiting for her to come in and smile. He wants to start all over. He wants to do it right this time.

Picture source:pixabay

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Prompt:slug

Written for @mariannewest #freewrite. To participate, follow @mariannewest and @freewritehouse for everyday prompt. Lots of contest to participate in too.

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