Barring Decisions

The bubbles glided above the glass in front of Frank. He stared at it for hours while the chatter went on around him. The drink had been poured hours ago, and Frank could only look at the drink he used to love so much. His worn face matched the disappointment he heard around the room. A young man sat at the table, laughing and reaching for the drink as Frank grabbed his arm.

"If you are not going to drink this, then I will, old man," the young man boasted.

"Leave it alone, young buck; you have a lot to learn about life that you do not understand," Frank responded.

"Chill out and have some fun, old man," the young man replied.

"Life is more than fun, and this is not worth your time," Frank replied.

"Whatever, old man, just stare at it more instead of enjoying it," the young man stated as he walked off.

Frank had once been young and adventurous, and he loved his parties. The times were good for the ladies who never came. He partied with his group and nearly fell while finding his way home. Life was a blur, and all he could do was reach for the next drink. One night, Frank stumbled back from the bar and saw the most beautiful woman. She looked at him with disgust, then walked away. His mind wanted her, but not when he was in this state. Frank could only shed a tear as he thought back to the room, where the drink still stood there.

Then a businessman sat at the table and looked at him funny as he joked on his phone. His cruel comments only made Frank feel worse, as he remembered seeing a pretty woman again. Her date had never shown up, and he was about to cry as he decided to skip the bar that night. The evening was better than expected as he fell in love and never looked back. She finally talked to him, and he was ready to try his best. On another date, he felt the change. His nights on dates were filled with the beautiful Elise. His heart was happy and filled with hope, and he wanted more in life than partying. Frank stared at the drink and saw the man leave the table after the ridicule.  

Frank looked over at another table as the wife was screaming at the husband. His face was uncaring as he wanted his drink. The wife stormed off as he sat there, drunk as could be seen. Frank could only place himself there. The beautiful Elise had been willing to marry him, and it was great until the stress came. Frank would go to the bar while Elise cried and cared for the baby. It was the best fix of the time. One day, Frank came home to find she had left with their child. Frank could only drink himself into a stupor. One day he saw Elise at the store and talked to her. Elise gave Frank an ultimatum: stay together and face it, or a divorce. Frank fumed for days; he was so drunk he could not even go to work and lost the house. Frank checked into rehab and felt better as he found Jesus. After much improvement, he found another job and stayed sober for over a year before begging Elise to come back. She agreed, and Frank salvaged his marriage from the brink of disaster. Their love grew as the family grew. She eventually grew sick, and she could not fight anymore, but he stayed sober for her. Now she was gone, and the drink tempted him again. He was that drunk man and a sober one. Darkness had fallen, and Frank stared at the debating drink to take a sip. The bartender yelled Last call as the patrons came for the last of the drinks.

Samuel came into the bar and sat at the table. Sam stared at his father and noticed he had not drunk the beer. Frank looked at his son with sadness.

"I could not do it this time. Even when she is gone, I have lost my taste for it," Frank stated.

"She would be proud of your sobriety, and maybe we could go home now," Sam replied.

The men left the table, the beer untouched, as the young man came back over and stole it. Frank walked with his son, hugging him outside. The funeral had been difficult enough, and not drinking even harder. Frank had survived the last call and would have to live his life without his beloved.