The Setting sun dyed the town in orange and red with heavy dark blue shadows juxtaposing the light as I got off the bus at my stop.

The corner of Lily and fourth.

A small Stream cut its way through the gutter parallel to the sidewalk. Everyday it’s always like that even though it hasn’t rained in quite some time.

The water flows downhill, and slowly but surely makes its way to the sea. I’ve heard the phrase “all roads lead to Rome.” but in this case I suppose we could say all water returns to the sea.

I can feel the flow pulling at me, even now I haven’t lost my nomadic tendencies.

At times I feel acutely aware of the wind and the water, it’s like they pull at me. Like they know I’m not supposed to be here.

That they know wherever I go the idea of home is something I don’t deserve.

Well, then again that’s why I love this town. The sea breeze pulls at my heart while the flowing stream tugs at my feet.

This place is my last refuge. The final stopping point.

After here there's only the sea, this place lies at the very edge of no return. Whenever I look out into that great blue void where sky and sea blur into one an indescribable feeling begins to well up inside me.

And as I stare transfixed all I can think is, “Oh, once I cross that it’ll be the end of me.”

Yes, once I cross that azure abyss I know I’ll continue to wander until my body withers away and I collapse where I stand.

That is the end I will meet, but for now I’ll let myself be held here by that man.

Everyone has a thing they know is inevitable, and for me this just happens to be it. Like a kite that’s been cut free of its string I will continue to wander this world until all my colors fade and I rot apart.

It isn’t anything to mourn or fear.

It’s a simple fact.

Yes, this is the path I chose for myself.

I’ve fought, and bitten, and tore my way through the main course.

This is my just desserts.

However,

All that lies in the future, for now I think I’ll continue sampling this life of tranquility and routine like the glutton I am.

Well, I’d love to contemplate that cerulean bulwark until the stars arrived to keep me company.

However, sadly time marches on and I’m growing ever later for my precious precious job.

And so it was that these two legs of mine navigated me to a small bar that was sandwiched between two larger buildings of masonwork.

I’ve been coming here every day for the past three months, and yet I couldn’t tell you just what the stores surrounding us sold. For all I knew they could both be two hugely successful bars slowly eating away at my place of employment until the they met in the middle like two ravenous lovers.

When you think of it like that isn’t it a bit romantic? I much prefer that kind of story to those bitter sweet love stories where the lovers are divided and must settle for things being the way they are.

If there’s a sea of stars between me and my chosen partner I don’t much see the point in waiting. I’d rather drown trying to cross it than wait for my allotted time to experience happiness.

Regardless that was the kind of place I worked in.

A small bar that went by the name “The Devil’s Solace.”

Believe me, the very first thing I brought up with my boss was the name. In this day and age isn’t The Devil supposed to be mankind’s greatest antagonist? With a name like that even I would hesitate to enter.

“Hey, hey what’s so wrong with that? Who’s to say that he’s really such a bad guy you know? A place where the devil can take off his horns, kick back, and down some booze like a normal guy. That’s what I wanted the name to mean!”

Is what he had proclaimed rather loudly at me on my first day here.

“So, what do you think? Doesn’t it just flip your perception of it on its head?”

No, no it didn’t.

Well, I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.

And so with a sigh on my lips and a weight on my shoulders I pulled open the “push” door and headed into the dimly lit room.

“Oy oy you’re 4 minutes, 45 seconds and 70 milliseconds late Mei!”

Was the greeting I received.

On one of the bar stools my boss sat glancing at me uninterestedly as he began folding today’s newspaper neatly back into its square-shaped origin.

“Really? A whole seventy milliseconds huh?”

I replied eyeing him up and down, from his unkempt blonde hair to his fancy sunglasses. From his pin striped gray vest to his slate black slacks. As ever he looked more a snake oil salesman than a humble bar owner.

“Exactly a whole seventy! A mayfly is born and dies within five minutes. You’ve kept me waiting for nearly a lifetime. Think how many customers we’ve lost in the meantime.”

He swung around on the bar stool pointing at me like this was some kind of drama… except he over shot it and spun around a few times before facing about thirty degrees to my right.

“ I’ll thank you not to say such stupid things first thing at the start of my shift.” I may be relying on him for a paycheck but that didn’t mean I’d have to play along with his nonsense.

“Besides even if you tried to make this into a case of dereliction of duty there’s no way that line of reasoning would ever stand up in court.”

“Ha, so you’ve learn to speak back huh newbie? Alright we’ll have Jirard settle this!” He said rotating around to face an elderly gentleman who stood behind the counter calmly cleaning a mug with an air of zen serenity about him.

The man’s hair was salt and pepper with a finely kept moustache that adorned his mouth almost as if it was a matter of good manners.

His clothes were immaculately pressed and washed, he seemed to live and breath bartending. As if he was chiseled this way from marble for the express purpose of standing in this spot for all eternity.

I gave Jirard an apologetic look as I began slipping off my thick black overcoat.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“He’s been so bored simply sitting around here, I hope you don’t mind indulging him a bit.” Came his response.

Business as usual I suppose.

“Fu fu” Boss laughed, clearly enjoying himself. “Now then young lady, let’s see you prove your mettle.” His voice was deepened as if he was trying portray himself as some great demon lord.

To be honest I’d still rather not.

But… this man was responsible for my paycheck, and my place of residence.

Ahh… the things I do for money.

“To begin with we’ll start with the most major assertion you’ve levied at me. Starting with the statement: ‘you’ve kept me waiting a lifetime.’ It’s a blanket misleading statement that only works on the basic assertion that mayflies can be considered a customer.”

“O-oh”

“And may I remind you my dear employer that we serve human beings here. Furthermore I’m more than pretty sure that having swarms of mayflies buzzing around the alcohol would be a giant health code violation.”

I spoke deliberately in a deadpan tone, I’ve learned by now that if you give this man and inch he’ll take a mile. Whoever came up with the phrase “talk softly and carry a big stick” was truly a sage of our time.

With that sharp jab I’d already wiped that stupid grin off his face.

“Furthermore I’ll thank you not to claim I’ve kept you waiting for nearly a lifetime, as others can easily misconstrue the meaning.”

“Heh heh heh, what’s the matter Mei? Did I make your heart skip a beat?”

This annoying guy… for a moment I couldn’t hide the disgust and annoyance on my face.

However! As a responsible grown adult I cannot fall for such cheap provocations. Indeed long gone is my wild and violent ways, today’s me is an infinite well of patience and good will.

“It’s okay no need to be embarrassed Mei! This isn’t the first time I’ve had a young lady fall for me you know. I’ll have you know that just a few months ago I-”

“Boss I’d like to urge you not to incriminate yourself further in this situation as if you continue I will be reporting you to the police for harassment.”

My words hit him like a brick wall just as he was going to launch into another of his long winded love stories leaving him with a look of disappointment on his face.

“H-hey Jirard… isn’t she being just a little too ruthless today…?”

“Well boss, you know she gets prickly when you carelessly act overly familiar with her like that.”

Came Jirard’s calm and measured response.

“You know I’m standing right here still… right?” I asked turning my gaze to Jirard as he moved on to the next mug.

“Think of this as an extension of my role as mediator in this verbal sparring match the two of you are having.”

Not even a shift in his proper tone.

How these two ever fell in with each other I don’t think I’ll ever know.

“Fine fine, and moving on to my third and final point”

I said, preparing for my final blow.

“There is literally no one here. We only get a few regulars and even they usually don’t come every day more like once a week. I don’t even know how this place stays in business, the fact that you had the funds to hire me makes me feel like this whole place is a money laundering scheme.”

Jirard gave a well-timed laugh as he brought one gloved hand to his mouth.

As for my boss he nearly fell off his stool, feigning an arrow to his heart as he stumbled to the wall, leaning against it for support.

“Well I would say that it’s game set and match Boss. Do you have any last words?”

I couldn’t see because of his moustache, but I swear Jirard was smiling as he watched us.

“Y-you may have gotten me today… but I’ll be back. Someday...somewhere when you least suspect it I’ll-”

Just as he was about to ramp up into his dramatic last stand Jirard cut him off with a well-mannered yet firm interjection.

“Then I would like to rule in favor of the young lady. Fellow employee Mei cannot be convicted of dereliction of duty, henceforth I believe you owe her the usual, Boss.”

“Ah… yeah yeah one drink on the house.”

Boss’s demeanor returned to its usual overly casual nature and he pushed himself off the wall and strutted his way back his stool and flopped down in a position that can’t have been comfortable as the counter jabbed into his back.

“But still… what exactly makes you think this is some kind of money laundering scheme...isn’t that a bit harsh even for you?”

I glanced over the dimly lit room, it was full of empty tables, stools, and chairs that while immaculate definitely looked like they had been bought second hand.

The whole bar gave the feel of a well worn dive out in the sticks that you stop by mid road trip.

Except it was in the middle town and barely anyone ever came here.

“Again, how can you hire me when we barely get any customers as is?” Came my response, Jirard took great pride in the bar’s upkeep. Pointing out second hand nature of the furniture felt like a personal affront towards him and… I just couldn’t bring myself to do that.

He was a nice old man who loved going that extra mile in cleaning and upkeep, and I’ll be damned if I could find anything wrong with that.

“Well see… thing is you’re supposed to be paying for yourself.”

“Excuse me?” Boss had that tone of voice that told me I was about to encounter some supreme bullshit.

“See… you’re reasonably attractive y’know? A little rough around the edges but it makes you approachable. Plus you have that one special trait that made you essential for the Solace Team.”

For a second I deluded myself into thinking he’d noticed the gentle me. The young lady who’s achieved a postmodern life of enlightenment and serenity.

“So uh, you have that slight build and for whatever reason prefer wearing kinda masculine clothes so…”

I pulled out my phone.

“You have this kinda androgynous charm about you, and I figured I could use you to attract both guys AND gals and save myself the salary on an employee.”

“Yes, hello Police? “

“Q-quick Jirard do something!” Boss yelled out, scrambling to sit up but in the end slipping off his stool and hitting his head on the counter with a loud bang.

I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

Jirard paused a second to glance at Boss before reaching for a third mug and beginning his cleaning process all over again.

“Y’all should be grateful I’m such a goddamn saint or all y’all would be fired by now” Boss sulked as he laid where he’d fallen in self pity.

“As ever, we bask in your ever flowing compassion Boss.” Jirard responded, holding the mug up to the light and scrutinizing it.

At this I let slip the laugh I’d been stifling.

“Hey hey, what’s so funny.” Boss grunted from where he had strewn himself under the counter.

“You’re a saint now huh?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know? I’m such a nice guy I’d even forgive The Devil himself!”

That was a pretty ballsy proclamation if I’d ever heard one. Then again Boss was strange enough to the point where I didn’t exactly doubt him.

With a dismissive wave I entered the break room of the bar and dropped off my bag and overcoat and took stock of the me that was staring back from a nearby mirror.

A young lady with short jet black hair, gray borderlining black eyes, and pale white skin met my gaze.

When I’d wandered into this town I’d had hair down to the small of my back, I was short on money and so haircuts were one of those luxuries I couldn’t afford.

When I’d started here on my first day Boss had insisted I wear my hair in two pony tails, “Twintails” as he called it, needless to say after I’d suffered that indignity I’d swiftly taken my paycheck and had my hair cut as short as I could stand.

Even with this short, boyish haircut I still thought I looked feminine enough as to not be mistaken for the opposite sex.

At least I hoped I was.

Slipping on the black apron over my button up white blouse and black dress pants I made my way back out to the bar proper.

Such was my daily routine.

This illustrious job I’d finally grabbed for myself was in the end nothing more than a simple job as a barmaid.

For these past three months I’d been engrossing in myself in this simple yet wonderful life, falling asleep to the dawn and waking up to the dusk.

However

I’d still yet experienced one of the quirks of this scrappy little bar.

It’s true this place had a customer base that was practically nonexistent, for these past few months I only ever saw four or five people patron this place.

So in the end I suppose there’s no way I could’ve known right off the bat.

This place was a haven for people like me.

These kinds of broken and twisted people sought solace in this place, whether they realized it or not.

Boss wasn’t too far from the truth when he said this was a place where “the devil could remove his horns, kick back, and down some booze like a normal guy.”

Whether it was the atmosphere of the place or Jirard’s taciturn bartending manners, this bar has become a place a certain kind of people would gather.

They’d leave their devils at the door, and for one night return to being “normal.”

If there was one thing I could criticize it’d be in Boss’ naming conventions. This place was not a solace for The Devil, but rather a solace from The Devil.

Although honestly it was just like him to get things so backwards.

And so it went that as I made my way out of the employee break room an unfamiliar face caught my eye.