Her name was Cherry. Well, no, not really. Her real name was Sakura, she told me it means ‘cherry blossom’. When I tried it out, wanting to see how it rolls off my tongue, (“sock-ooh-rah”), she giggled, slid me a glass of water and said, “Just call me Cherry”.

We had met at the bar, and amidst my attempts to drown in the liquor, she had been a breath of fresh air. Vital but fleeting, she was gone the next minute, and I was left downing the glass of water, looking into its reflection trying to see her life raft keeping me afloat. I hoped I would see her again.

The next time I came to drown in the liquor, it was a cloudy day outside. Even though there wasn’t rain, the day’s stress and mistakes felt like a downpour upon my head, weighing down every step. I slid into a stool and ordered a neat of whatever my missed check could acquire. Someone took the seat beside me, with a ghost of cool fingers along my shoulder drawing a hitch in my breath. Cherry.

She laughed softly at my shock then smiled and slid me a water, just like the first time. Like sunshine peaking through the clouds, I was drawn to her warmth. She didn’t leave this time, she stayed by me. We talked, each word warming me up. She told me about her home and her studies while I avoided telling her why I was trying to get wasted in the first place. I wasn’t doing great on that front; she called me out with a knowing look in her eyes and a smirk on her. At that time my initial order was placed by me. I still reached for the water.

Her eyes darted from the glass to me, a grin, spreading across her face. I couldn’t stop the smile from breaking across mine in return. Feeling bold and a bit sheepish I leaned forward. She leaned back with a mischievous glint in her eye, and drummed her fingers in the space between us playfully. I averted my gaze for a moment with a huff, then reached out for her hand. I changed actions last second to rest it beside her, rubbing the back of my neck with the other and ignoring the burning of my ears, “It was nice seeing you again. You… you’re- can I-“.

Cherry raises an eyebrow at me with a slight tilt of her head and a teasing smile on her lips. I continue, resisting the urge to tug at my collar. “Can I get to know you more? Perhaps, outside the bar?”

Cherry leans forward, her hand on the bar moving to cover mine. With the other she hands me a slip of paper. With a smile, she replies, “Sure.”