It had been a week like many others as of late, over worked, under resourced and struggling to stay on top, we had ploughed through the week until we were exhausted. Unlike others, however, this Friday, we had organised the office quarterly night out. We found ourselves at the the local bar, myself a charismatic and athletic (and not at all big headed), family man in his early forties. My youthful appearance and messy blonde hair gave me the air of someone much younger than my years and I still tried to convince myself that I was very much in the glory years of my youth. The rest of our small office numbered about a dozen, a rag tag bunch of guys and the few ladies that would tolerate us.
It was the end of the month and unusually warm and sunny weather for mid-spring, resulting in crowds of revellers thronging the bars, making the most of the fine weather and the money in their pockets. Groups of young men and women chatted and laughed, alcohol flowing freely, the women dressed in revealing summer dresses, short skirts and vest tops, both enticing and frustrating as I realised I was no longer part of their world. I had enjoyed reasonable success with the ladies and I missed the thrill of a new partner and the excitement it could bring. I had long ago given up such pleasures, with a wife of ten years and a young family to care for. We had a stable relationship but the excitement had long since faded, replaced with the daily grind, a situation I accepted, until nights like these reminded me of what once was.
My colleague Sam had joined us for our night. He was my number two, helping out with the jobs I didn't have the time or patience to carry out myself. Sam was a few inches shorter than me at 5'9 but with a distinctly more rotund build, not fat but definitely carrying a few extra pounds, a fact not helped by his lack of exercise, having become a father in the last 12 months. In his mid thirties, with a nervous disposition and glasses, his natural shyness didn't make him overly popular in work and he wasn't exactly on a career trajectory that would make people take notice. Nevertheless, his slightly awkward mannerisms and self depreciating nature had a certain charm and he applied himself diligently at his work. We had a love hate relationship in the office as we tried to make sense of our shared workload. Interestingly, I had noticed a strange energy around him the last few months as we worked late trying to meet deadlines. I put this down to him being a new parent with the associated lack of sleep giving him a slightly intense unfiltered air. Often, after the others had left, he would pull up a chair at my desk and sit close as he let off steam discussing whatever issue had arisen with his wife. He always seemed to be having problems and his relationship did not strike me as a happy one. His frankness of conversation and physical proximity unnerved me slightly but I must admit it gave me a strange tingle sitting so close to him in the empty office and often I would encourage him, asking questions as he revealed more of his private life.
On this particular evening I had a few too many drinks, having lost my tolerance to alcohol long ago. 'Time for me to go..' I drawled as I downed the last of my drink. Raising unsteadily to feet my colleagues roared with laughter as I toppled my chair backwards and nearly fell flat on my face. Sam jumped up from the neighbouring seat and caught me before I landed face first on the floor. Catching me under the arms, he dragged me up, for a second I felt his body against mine as he struggled to keep us upright. Finally getting us both stable, he raised my arm over his shoulder, and, being boringly teetotal, offered to get me home safely. We said our goodbyes and our colleagues waved us off as the next round arrived.
Walking into the now cold evening air brought an instant hit of sobriety to my lungs. Suddenly uncomfortable, I lifted Sam's arm off my shoulders and steadied myself.
'You want me to order you a taxi' he stammered, pushing his glasses back up his face.
'No, I'll go to the old flat' I said 'There's no way I can go home in this state and it's within walking distance from here.' I had inherited a property in the city which had been used as a makeshift stopover on late nights and was now lying empty waiting for a buyer.
'I'm not letting you wonder off yourself in that state' he said after me, 'God knows, you could be mugged, or worse'
'You'd like that wouldn't you..' I leered at him, trying to raise my eyebrow in an amusing way. I had no idea why I said that, just drink I guess. Over the late nights at work Sam had often told me how unhappy he was with his present living conditions. it seemed that since the baby had arrived some 9 months ago he had been banished to the spare room, with his wife seemingly indifferent to his advances. 'Come on, you can come with me if it matters that much to you'.
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We made it back to the old apartment in good time. I found the walk had done my head some good, although it had done nothing for the horn I typically got whenever I had a sniff of alcohol.
'Stay for a drink, I think I still have bottle of vodka here somewhere.' I dug around in the boxes as Sam glanced around the empty apartment. The flat had been stripped near bare in preparation for sale. Just a few boxes, an old table and bed were left in the main bedroom.
'Here it is' I said triumphantly as I dug out the dusty bottle.
'No thanks, I don't drink anymore, remember' he said as we sat on the edge of bed, the only available seat bar the floor.
'Look mate, what goods a night out if you can't have a drink. Come over and tell me what your misses' has been up to now. Besides, nothing fun every happens to sober people' I laughed.
