#Chapter 297: Pub Stories

Abby The pub, with its warm, amber lighting and the gentle hum of conversation, feels like a haven after the long day of work. Outside, it’s nearly frigid, but it’s as warm as can be in here thanks to the flickering fire in the fireplace. I can already picture a tall glass of beer in my hand to ward away the cold that has seeped into my bones. I hate to admit it because of Chloe’s cold shoulder, but I’m glad I came. It brings me back to the days when Karl and I were married, and we would head to the local pub for a drink and a game of billiards on a Friday night. Even though it’s been over three years, everything looks exactly the same; even the pictures on the walls, Polaroids of various patrons in funny outfits, are still hanging exactly where they were before. It’s comforting, in an unexpected sort of way. We gather around a large, worn wooden table in the corner and take our seats. The sound of classic rock music playing over the speakers combined with the sound of othe