Abbie gets a drink after work (unfinished)

It had been a long and exhausting day. Abbie had several meetings, new clients, old clients, all of it incredibly dull, and she felt like the day was never going to end. There was no fun banter in the kitchen, there was no laughter from the cubicles -- it was just the worst kind of work day.

Abbie thought about asking around to see who wanted to get a drink after work. But then she heard folks talking about their own after work plans -- going to see a hockey game, hanging out with their wives, getting on a train and heading out to the suburbs -- the vibe just wasn't there for a quick beer down the street.

So Abbie decided to go off on her own for a change. She didn't usually do this. In fact, she almost always went to one of the same two bars with work friends -- but today, she was determined to venture off her own beaten path.

After work, she got in her car, and began to drive. She just randomly picked left turns, right turns, streets she'd never heard of. And after about twenty minutes of driving, she had no idea where she was. She could have used the GPS on her phone -- and she likely would, to get home again later -- but for now, she was in a new world.

Rain began to fall, first in a light mist, then in a slightly heavier spatter. She flicked on her windshield wipers. The street she was on was well lit, plenty of restaurants and stores. A few people were out walking, some without umbrellas, moving faster to get to wherever they were headed, probably hoping not to get too wet.

Abbie slowed as she saw some neon lights to her right. It was definitely a bar, but one that hadn't gotten much care or attention in a while. Despite the obvious signs of decay, there was something undeniably alluring about the abandoned bar. It was as if the peeling paint and cracked tiles held a secret, a hidden history that was waiting to be uncovered. Abbie felt a sense of anticipation rise in her chest as she stepped out of her car and walked closer to the building.

The rain continued to fall, sending rivulets of water cascading down the exterior. There was a busted neon sign that used to say DRINKS but now just said D-I-K-. Abbie laughed at it, hoping this wasn't an omen. As she looked at the broken sign, Abbie couldn't help but wonder what the bar used to be like in its heyday. Was it a rowdy spot, filled with smoke and laughter? Or a quiet haven for lonely souls seeking solace in a glass of whisky?

Despite any sense of better judgment she might have had, she was determined to just follow fate. So she wound up at D-I-K-, and this is where her night would begin.