Occupied Seat
The bar is loud enough to pretend I'm not alone laughter spilling over itself glasses clinking like small celebrations I wasn't invited to
I take my drink like medicine slow at first then like I'm trying to outrun the quiet inside my chest
There's a couple to my left sharing secrets in yelled whispers to my right a group of friends stacking stories on to of each other like they'll never run out
And me, I'm somewhere in between a ghost with a tab open nodding along to conversations no one's having with me
The bartender asks if I'm good and I say yeah, because it's easier than explaining how a room this full can feel this empty
Every sip dulls the edges but sharpens the truth I didn't come here for the drink I came for the noise for something to drown out the sound of my own thoughts softly calling my name
But even here under neon lights and borrowed songs I can still hear it
the quiet voice saying you don't belong anywhere you have to drink to feel seen
So I finish what's left leave cash on the counter and slip out unnoticed just another body that filled a seat and left it warm for someone else
