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Parking her car outside the bar, Janet with sheer determination leaves her car unlocked. She walks inside the bar, the door opens on this warm day, which is unusual for February. Dawn is behind the bar serving the few customers when Janet walks in and sits in her usual seat.
“Well as I live and breathe. Janet about time you get your ass in here,” Dawn says as she walks over to Janet. “The usual?”
Janet nods her head and Dawn mixes her a drink, a rum and Diet Pepsi, her favorite. After making this big decision she finds she needs a drink. Dawn sits the drink in front of her on a coaster. Janet gulps it down in one sitting, she pushes the glass towards Dawn, “Another Please.”
“Sure thing. Is everything alright?” Dawn questions as she makes another drink.
“Yes, why are you asking?” Janet retorts.
“Well. I haven’t seen you in months. You show up drinking no less.” Dawn sits the drink back in front of her friend. “Is everything good between you and Sean?
Janet down the next drink before she answers, “Everything is OK I guess. Only I made a decision.”
Raising her eyebrows, “What decision?” Almost knowing what is coming next.
“I am going to do whatever it takes to visit Gary.” Janet replies smiling at her statement.
“Umm Janet, I don’t think that’s best. What did Sean say?” Dawn’s voice crackles a bit.
“Well, he didn’t say anything,” Janet pauses. “I didn’t tell him. You know his thoughts about Gary. I need to do this Dawn. I need this.”
Dawn takes in a deep breath and slowly releases it, “I hope you know what you’re doing. I don’t want to visit you in the hospital again. I couldn’t take it.”
Janet reaches out and puts her hand over her friends’ hand, “Dawn I will be fine. Besides I will have Gary’s lawyer with me always. I see him in the morning.”
Shaking her head, “Janet honey, I hope you know what you’re doin.”
A few minutes later, after Janet finished three drinks, she stands up from the bar stool and heads back out to her car. She didn’t have time to let Dawn she was leaving, but she didn’t want to talk anymore about her plans. As she heads into the grocery store to pick up dinner to make Sean his favorite meal, spaghetti and meatballs with garlic sauce. Janet stops outside and looks around, the strangest feeling she is being watched. She shakes her head and continues walking through the automatic doors. She is being paranoid.