In a dimly lit bar, the atmosphere was heavy with memories and the sound of clinking glasses. David had spent most of the year tucked away in his apartment, shielding himself from the world after losing Lily, his best friend and confidante. He had pictured this year so differently—envisioning her by his side as he stood, nervously adjusting his tie, ready to celebrate their engagement in February. Instead, he found himself here alone, staring at the reflection of his own brokenness in the glass.

As he stepped through the door, the familiar notes of an old song hit him like a wave, bringing back echoes of laughter shared and dreams whispered in the quiet of their late-night talks. Tonight, he thought, maybe a few drinks would help lighten the burden. He fought against the tears that threatened to spill, wrestling with the cards life had dealt him, wondering how it was possible for the heart to feel so heavy while the world continued to spin.

"Delusion is here again," he whispered to himself, pretending for a moment that things were alright, that Lily would walk in and light up the room just as she used to. But every glance around the bar only reminded him of her absence. It felt as if the music was a cruel reminder that time was moving, yet he felt frozen in grief, dancing with his eyes closed to block out the reality of the empty space beside him.

David swayed gently to the music, almost drowning out the loneliness that enveloped him. With each sip, he could almost summon her laughter in each note, lose himself in the rhythm of the memories that surrounded him. Outside, the world carried on; people walked home, laughter faded into the night, but he remained, ensconced in his own little bubble of despair.

Time slipped away, and as the bar staff began cleaning up, he found himself the last to linger, still dancing with clenched eyes. “How can I keep doing this?” he thought, struggling to find a path out of this darkness. Every song that played was a haunting reminder of the life that had unraveled so suddenly.

“Just keep dancing,” he murmured, eyes tightly shut. The floor beneath him transformed into waves, and for those fleeting moments, he was lost in the rhythm, holding tightly to the ghost of her presence. There was solace in the delusion, even as the truth echoed louder—she was gone, and yet everywhere he looked, he still saw her.

And so, he danced on, eyes closed to the reality, lost in a bittersweet spiral of love and loss, hoping that with every step, he could somehow find a way back to the light. The night wore on, and although the world outside moved forward, in the refuge of the bar, David continued to sway, intertwining the memories of yesterdays with the haunting melodies of today.