From Hell to Heaven

The bartender placed the cold beer down in front of him. Condensation already dripping down onto the coaster, making his mouth water with anticipation. It had been a few months since he had been out in the real world. After she left him. Or rather, after he kicked her ass out.

They had been together for three years. Three of the best years of his life. He thought they were happy. He had even saved up enough money to buy her the engagement ring of her dreams. Thankfully he didn't end up buying it yet.

He was on his way to the jewelers, when he realized he had forgotten his wallet at home. Turning back was the best thing and the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. Walking in the door he could hear noises coming from the bedroom. He never expected to find his girlfriend flat on her back, with her long legs wrapped around another man. Not just any man, his brother.

He took a big swig of his beer at that memory. He had been a fool to think that they were happy. That they were in love. And who does that to their own family. He even told his brother his plans to propose and that he wanted him to be the best man. His brother had shown excitement and agreed. Why agree, knowing full well you are banging the soon to be wife.

The only good part about turning back and coming home to find them like that, was that he never did waste his money on a ring for that cheating horrible woman. And he didn't waste more money and time thinking they were still happy and planning a wedding. A wedding leading to a marriage that would have been destined to fail from the very start.

"Fucking assholes" he said while taking another sip of his beer. His eyes wondering to the hockey game on the TV behind the bar. He really wasn't paying attention.

He hadn't left his house for months. Not wanting to see people, or run into anyone he knew. He really didn't want to have that talk, where people show remorse but really only want to know the juicy details of the worst moment of your life. Or see the looks of pity in their eyes for what he had gone through. He had stopped talking to his family. His parents kept trying to get him to forgive his brother. But why? They kept telling him that he has been really depressed lately and missing him. And how he feels just aweful about the whole situation. His brother, not only doesn't deserve his forgiveness, but he also has never actually apologized for what he did. And to top it off they were still together. So why should he be the one to make his brother feel better?

He had decided he would head home after this beer. He got step one done. Showered, shaved, cleaned the house, and finally stepped out into the real world to be around people. Still alone, but around others none the less. That was enough for today.

"Hey!" A cheerful voice said beside him. He was so lost in his thoughts and memories of the worst day of his life, he didn't even notice a woman had sat down right next to him. He looked at her and then looked to the other side of him, down the bar. He wasn't sure if she was talking to him or someone else. But no one else was at the bar with them, so I guess she was saying hi to him.

"Hi." he said. A bit confused.

"Glass of your house white, please" she asked the bartender as he wondered up to them.

"5oz or 9?" The bartender asked.

"Oh 9oz, please." She replied with a smile.

Her smile was bright and happy and it showed off a little dimple in her cheek. Her smile was so contagious, he almost smiled. He hadn't once since that day and didn't expect to ever smile again.

"Today has been a day!" She said, and thanked the bartender for her drink. "How was yours so far?"

"Pretty un eventful. So far this has been the highlight of the day." He replied. Her smile grew wider and a little bit of pink flushed her cheeks, and he realized she probably thought meeting her was his highlight. He didn't bother to correct it. He just meant being outside his dingy depressing apartment was the highlight of his day. She apparently 'Had a day' so why steal away a moment that made her smile. He would hate to not see that smile.

That thought surprised him, and he quickly looked away from her and back down at his beer.

She took another sip of her wine and got comfy on the chair beside him. He noticed her black skirt showing off her legs just below the knee. She had a green top on that was tight enough to see she had quite the body on her, but also wasn't too showy. She didn't seem like she was there to flaunt herself and pick up a stranger. Maybe she was just coming home from work and wanted a drink at the bar and friendly conversation. Likely wouldn't get it from him, poor girl, but he also wouldn't be rude if she chose to keep talking.

"I know office work isn't too exciting, but boy do I get my fair share of angry customers that can make my good day turn bad, real fast." She said. Glancing his way and taking another sip of her drink.

"I manage a warehouse so thankfully don't usually have to deal with customers that often." He replied.

"Oh manager at a warehouse. That sounds like a nice job to have. Do you at least enjoy it? Or is it more just a job?"

"Meh, just a job really. But I do find I enjoy it more than any other job I have had throughout the years, and the money is good, so I can't really complain there."

"That's always good, to enjoy what you do. Makes going to work a bit easier every day."

He nodded at that, and glanced over at her. She was beautiful. He had noticed her outfit earlier. Her sexy but professional looking attire. He tried not to look directly at her, but now he caught himself admiring the green colour of her eyes. The way her dark read hair fell over her shoulder after she tucked it behind her ears, and her light glossy lips. He was surprised by his want to touch her cheek, and kiss those lips.

She caught him staring and smiled again. He turned away, feeling his cheeks heat up as he mumbled an apology.

She reached over and put her hand on his arm. It tingled at her touch and caused him to glance back over at her.

"I'm starving," She said "Do you want to get a table and have some food?" She asked.

She didn't even wait for him to answer before she was asking the waitress, that was walking by, if they could get a table for two.

"Sure thing hun, follow me." The waitress said as she started to walk away. They grabbed their drinks and followed the waitress to a seat in the back of the restaurant. "Ill bring you guys a couple menus" she said.

"Thank you." They both said in unison.

The waitress dropped off the menus and they started to look it over. How had he come to have a couple beer, and now seemed to be on a date with some stranger.

"So...what type of office work do you do?" He asked. He was nervous. He hadn't been on a date in years. And he wasn't expecting to go on one any time soon.

They got to talking about her job, and his in more detail. Ordered their food and kept on with the small talk. His nerves started to fade away the more they talked. It was so easy to talk to her, like they had known each other for years.

"So, what about family?" She asked. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

He flinched at that question. Sure he had a brother but he didn't consider him really family anymore.

"Thats... uhh... kind of a sore subject for me to talk about right now." He said, looking down at his food.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said, "I didn't mean to make things uncomfortable. Abi didn't really tell me anything about you so I didn't know there was any subjects to avoid bringing up."

Abi? He thought. Who was Abi?

"Wait...huh? Who is Abi?" He asked.

"Abi! Our friend that set us up on this blind date?" She looked at him confused as to why he didn't seem to know about it.

"Umm... I don't know anyone named Abi. I was not set up on a blind date, I was just having a beer and watching the game."

Her face went so red it was almost purple. "Oh my gosh" she said "This is so embarrassing. I'm so sorry." She looked like she was about to cry and run away as far and as fast from this table as humanly possible. She reached for her phone on the table, and he surprised himself by putting his hand on top of hers.

"Wait, please." He said, and she glanced his way but could barely keep eye contact. "What made you think I was the guy you were set up with?" He asked.

She spoke fast and sounded flustered as she explained her confusion. "She said to meet at this specific restaurant at 5:30pm, and you... or the guy I was supposed to meet, would be at the bar waiting for me wearing a red shirt."

He looked down at himself and saw that he was, in fact, wearing a darker red button up shirt. He had decided to look good today since he had felt aweful for so long. Easily could have been mistaken for a guy waiting for a date.

"I should go." She said looking down at the ground, but he still had his hand on top of hers. But she started to stand.

"I haven't left the house in three months." He blurted out, to his surprise. That made her sit back down and look at him. He took a deep breath. He was going to have to talk about it, for the first time in a long time. But maybe to a stranger it would be easier than a friend.

"I caught my brother and my ex, almost fiance, in our bed... together." He moved his hand off hers and leaned back in his chair. "I cut ties with both of them. Kicked her out of my apartment, bought a new bed, but have pretty much been living on my couch eating gross take out and living in misery." He paused for a moment and looked at her. She didn't have pity in her eyes and she waited for him to continue.

"I don't know who you were actually supposed to meet. But I haven't talked to anyone, or smiled, or laughed since that day. I finally decided enough was enough and I needed to clean myself up and feel human again and go out. Even if it was just for a quick beer at the restaurant nearby." He looked her in the eyes now, trying to see her reaction. Trying to figure out what she was thinking.

"Just within the past few hours of meeting you, I have laughed again. Smiled again. And have felt a genuine connection I never thought I could again. I know I wasn't the man you were supposed to meet today, but then again, maybe I was."

"That was cheesy." She said with a smirk, which made him smile. God she was beautiful.

"I understand if you want to leave, or find the date you were supposed to officially meet. But if you'd like to stay, I'd really like to get to know you more. And maybe, if I'm lucky, get a second date out of it." He smiled, and he knew she was going to stay. He saw her shoulders relax and that beautiful smile come across her face.

"Sounds perfect." She said. And they ordered another drink, some dessert, and carried on with their unexpected date.

He may have only wanted to come out for a beer, but boy was he thankful he was in the right place at the right time. Because not only did he happen to run into someone so great, it is also the story of how he met his now wife. He thinks fondly on that day often. It's crazy how fate works. And he is thankful for it every day.