I visited the dive bar last night and found no available seats. Among the seats' occupants was, in fact, Lucy. I smiled as I walked past and said hi. She gagged and managed an uncomfortable nod. Ordinarily, I would have grabbed a stool and had a drink, letting her approach me if she chose. But without an open seat, my only options were to leave or to force the issue with someone who quite probably despises me. So I left.
"YOU JUST MADE THIS SO MUCH WORSE! THAT'S EVEN WORSE THAN LEAVING THE FIRST TIME!" counseled a female friend via text.
Sigh.