Lights passing by, reflecting off the black and decorated motorcycle helmet affixed to Joshua's head. After some time riding he stops in front of a bar and pulls his helmet off looking at the bright pink neon sign. "Insomniac Liquor." 

"If someone needs to be shown that there is more to life, this would be the perfect place to start." Joshua said to himself before parking his bike and walking inside.

As soon as Joshua walked in, he was immediately hit with the smell of strong liquor and the mixed feelings of patrons. He looked around and saw some people laughing and hanging out with friends and loved ones at booths. Over at the bar he noticed most were seated with someone else. Could be couples probably. He thought to himself before looking over and seeing a young woman sitting by herself, finger swirling the rim of her drink. I wonder what's on her mind. He thought to himself before making his way to the bar and sitting next to the woman. She had tan skin, curly hair, and was wearing a red sweater, a black t-shirt, blue skinny jeans, and converse shoes. 

As Joshua sits next to the woman, he yells towards the barkeep "Tumbler of whiskey, to the brim." He looks over to the woman and then says "And another round for the lady." Then he sets his helmet onto the bar next to him.

"I planned on only have one drink tonight, but I guess I could stay for another. Thanks stranger." The woman said before taking another sip of her drink, a gin and tonic. She was drinking some kind of pain away Joshua thought.

"You looked like you could have used another. Plus it's on me. Long day?" Joshua asked as the barkeep handed them their drinks and Joshua took a sip.

"You've got no idea. Wish things could have been different. Don't think it would have mattered though. What's done is done." She said with a sigh before taking a sip of her old drink. "Nothing I can do about it now."

"Believe me, I know the feeling. One second everything is fine, then the next your world is turned upside down and you're just wondering what's next. Wondering how you're gonna keep going." Joshua said taking another sip of his drink.

"You lose someone too?"

"My best friend. You?"

"Same here. Drug overdose. You?"

"Suicide."

"Oh my God. I'm sorry to hear that." The woman said looking over at him. "What are you doing here then?"

"It was years ago, but I was thinking about it a lot today and then decided I needed a drink. I'm sorry you lost your friend. It's never easy and it never seems to get any easier. Time heals all wounds they say. Doesn't feel like it does though."

"Thank you. I found out earlier today and I'm still just asking myself how. How in the Hell did she get started? Who gave it to her?" 

"You never knew she was using?"

"Never. She acted the same way she always did. I knew her for years and she never seemed like the type to use. Turns out she had been using for a year now and she took took much and now..." The woman sighed heavily. "Don't even know your name and I'm spilling everything out. Maybe I could use the other drink." She says as she finishes off her first drink and pulls the other closer towards her. "Name's Tara, stranger." 

"Joshua, usually go by JT though." He takes a sip of his drink.

"JT. Easier on the tongue. Especially after a stiff drink." She looks at her second drink. "Or Two. What about you? Did you know? Why she?.. Or am I asking too much?"

"No, it's fine to talk to talk about it. 'Sides, you already talked about your friend. Wouldn't be fair if I didn't. I kinda knew, but also didn't. The night it happened, I was at her place and I wanted to go home. I had already spent the past few nights there and I needed to be home the next day to help my parents. I woke up the next morning and her mom was calling me. Couldn't tell what she was saying and then her dad took the phone and told me to just come over. I raced to get there, by the time I got there though, they were already carrying her out. The night before was the last time I saw her alive." JT takes a  big sip of his drink. "Say, why don't we get out of here and head somewhere a little more..." JT looks around the bar for a moment and then looks back at Tara. "Quiet. Somewhere we can actually talk about this?"

"No offense, but I did just meet you. One thing for strangers to be trauma dumping, another to be running off with someone in the dead of night in a big city." 

"Fair enough. Thought I would make the offer. Could use a smoke though." JT says flipping his lighter open and closed. The design on it is a worn and yellowing American flag with the lighter itself being silver in color.

"I didn't say no, but I wouldn't mind joining you for that." Tara gives a slight smirk in the corner of her mouth.

JT smiles back then looks over and yells for the barkeep. "Barkeep! Bill me!"

Tara and JT then walk out of the bar and JT pulls out a pack of Lucky Strike menthol cigarettes. He hands one to Tara and lights it for her, then lights one for himself. He takes a long drag and exhales slowly and shivers slightly. "Nicotine buzz. Kinda cold out here too."

"Didn't bring a jacket and you wanted to take me somewhere quiet? You didn't think any of this through did you?" Tara says as she takes a drag and chuckles slightly. 

"Doesn't help I came here on a bike either." JT says as he points to the sports bike he arrived on. 

"That's your ride? Damn nice set of wheels, but in this weather? You're insane." 

JT shrugs and adds "Common sense hasn't always been my strong suit. It was either that or drive my truck through the crowded streets and I'd rather not pay more on my insurance." JT takes a drag of his cigarette and flicks the butt of it across the road. "Saves more on gas too." He glances at Tara and gives a chuckle.

Tara gives a slight smile and a shake of her head. "You're something else JT. Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? Aside from being broken fool."

"You know the saying, ladies first." JT says, leaning against the wall behind them.

"Lemme add cheesy to the list too." Tara takes a deep breath and leans against the wall beside him. "Where to start? Well, I work as a waitress at a café, I grew up around here, was always a bit of a shy kid growing up, and knew Shelby my whole life pretty much. She's the one who died today. Not much to tell about me really. Just another soul walking around on Earth with dead dreams and few friends. One less as well." Tara flicks the butt of her cigarette towards the road and sighs. "What about you JT? What's your story?"

"Not much else to tell either. Moved up here a few years ago, I work HVAC, and I'm also just another wandering soul without direction with a pile of dead dreams and no purpose. Jess, my friend, killed herself years ago, about 2 weeks before we were going to graduate. Today's her birthday. She would've been twenty-two today." JT pulls out and lights another cigarette without even thinking about it. "Though, after a bit of thinking and reflecting. I think I do have a purpose now." JT takes a drag of his cigarette and looks at it. Damnit. There I go again, smoking more than I should. 

"I'm sorry to hear that. What do you think that might be? Mind if I bum another though?" Tara asks while looking up at him.

JT pulls out another cigarette for Tara and lights it for her. "I'm not really sure yet. But I've got a feeling it might have something to do with what we're doing here."

"Smoking and sharing sob stories? Hell of a purpose that is." She takes a drag of her cigarette and watches as the smoke fades in the air. "Sorry. It's been a long day. I'm not usually like this."

"You're good all things considered. It's understandable to be this way. But sharing my story and getting to know more people, maybe even lifting them up and giving them a purpose is what I'm mean to do." JT also took a drag of his smoke and stares off.

"Gonna become a pastor now? That's what it sounds like to me anyways."

"Nah, not like that. Talk to people, let them get their grief off their shoulders. Show them that they aren't alone and that other people feel the same kind of pain and can get through any struggles they are dealing with. Something I realized earlier today actually. Something I feel I should have done sooner." JT takes another drag of his smoke. 

"You really feel that way huh?"

"Feel what way?"

"Like you could help people and lift them up?"

"I think I could. Don't know where I would start though. I thought maybe I could here, but..."

"Then do it."

"What?"

"Let's go. Take my mind off this. You've already shared your sob story, I told you mine. Let's get out of here then."

"Didn't you just say you weren't going with a stranger on a bike?"

"I know a little more about you now. Night's still young and you said you gotta start somewhere right? Start with me and take me around. Help me forget today." Tara says as she grabs JT's helmet and looks at the stickers. "Certified Broom Pusher? Fragile. Handle With care? Fuck you money? Drag Up money?" Tara looks at JT with a raised eye brow.

"I've worked more trades than just HVAC and I've picked up a few stickers along the way." JT points to a sticker with a bear with deer antlers that says 'Beer?' and a sticker that says 'OSHA? Never heard of her.' "Some dry humor I guess you could say."

"Well, if I'm gonna ride on your wheels, it's better than nothing. But Certified Broom Pusher?" Tara giggles. "I gotta get one of those for my coworkers." Tara stands next to the bike. "Well? Let's go."

JT smiles and flicks his smoke, gets on the bike and revs it up. Tara puts on the helmet while JT starts playing music from a playlist he would listen to while cruising on his bike, starting off with 'Dancin' by Aaron Smith. As the song starts he rides off with Tara sitting behind him and she immediately wraps her arms around him to help keep her balance. The two then rode off into the city, going where ever their hearts saw fit.