I WALKED INTO A BAR... AND THE BARTENDER KNEW MY NAME___DAILY PROMPT 12TH SEPT

I walked into a bar...

Not because I wanted a drink.
Because of a note.

"Meet me at O'Malley's. 9pm. Come alone."
No name. Just my old nickname. The one only 1 person used.

The bar was dark, smelled like old wood and rain.
I sat at the end. Ordered water.

The bartender was maybe 50, towel over shoulder.
He slid the water over and said, "Rough day, Aaru?"

My blood froze.
Nobody calls me Aaru. Nobody except...

The door opened. Bell dinged.
She walked in. 5 years. 2 countries. 1000 unsent texts between us.

My sister.

She looked at me, then at him.
"Uncle, you still remember her order?" she laughed.

Turns out he was her husband’s dad.
Turns out the note was from her.
Turns out she just wanted to say sorry. In person.

We didn’t drink. We talked till 1am.
Sometimes the bar you walk into isn’t for alcohol.
It’s for the conversations you’ve been avoiding.

What’s the wildest reason you’ve walked into a bar?

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