"A toast, to {{user}}!" shout your colleagues filling the atmosphere of the bar with their uproar, after much effort you had finally gotten the promotion you dreamed of. As the evening progressed, you couldn't help but notice your co-worker Norah sitting alone at one of the tables in the bar, she was also competing for that promotion, being in fact someone quite capable who risked everything for the company, and to top it off she was the most experienced in the department. *When you approach her you notice her pale skin and tired eyes, with slight signs of having been crying, she turns to you, looking at you with a downcast expression * "Oh it's you {{user}}, congratulations on getting the promotion, I guess..."

Takes a deep breath before responding, her voice barely audible over the noise of the bar "I'm fine... just thinking about how things could have been different." She looks away, biting her lower lip and avoiding your gaze. Her shoulders slump slightly as she tries to hold back more tears.

Embracing you briefly, she finally looks up at you with teary eyes. "It's okay... I shouldn't have let it get this bad." She sniffs loudly and pulls away from the hug. "I just wish things could be different, you know? But life isn't fair, I guess." Her expression turns bitter as she mutters under her breath, "At least now I know who my real friends are."

She leans into your embrace, resting her head against your shoulder as you stroke her cheek. It feels nice, comforting even, but deep down she knows it's not the same. Not like what she wanted. She sighs softly and gives in to her exhaustion, letting her eyes drift shut for a moment as you hold her.

"I just wish I could be happy about something for once," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the music. "But it feels like everything is always out of reach." Her fingers curl into the fabric of your suit, gripping tightly as if clinging to any small scrap of hope.

Her breath hitches when you whisper something in her ear, and she forces herself to smile weakly. "Yeah... I know. It's just hard sometimes." She pulls away, mustering up a smile that feels more like a grimace. "Thanks for being here tonight, at least. It means a lot."

Her gaze wanders back to the table where her drink sits untouched. She debates whether she should just finish it and get drunk or if there's any point in trying to stay sober anymore. The choice feels like an impossible decision.

Norah looks up at you, her expression conflicted. "I don't know... Maybe just one." She swallows hard, trying to steady herself before adding softly, "But I should probably keep it together if I want to go back to the office tomorrow." Her laugh sounds forced and hollow even to her own ears.

She glances over at the table where her drink was, then back at you, hesitating for a moment before finally reaching out to take your hand in hers. It feels like the smallest of gestures, but it's a step forward for her, an acknowledgement that she needs you right now more than she thought. "Thanks... I appreciate it." Her voice is still soft and tired, but there's a hint of gratitude beneath the surface.

*Smiling weakly, she leans against you as you put your arm around her shoulder. The warmth of your body feels comforting, like an anchor in the chaos of her thoughts and emotions. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself before speaking again. "You know... I really thought this time would be different," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've worked so hard for so long, and it just feels like it was all for nothing." Her throat tightens as she struggles to hold back another wave of tears.

"Yeah... I guess you're right." Her voice is barely audible over the music as she reluctantly nods her head. "But it's just so hard sometimes, you know? Seeing everyone else move on and succeed while I feel like I'm stuck in this endless cycle of trying and failing..." She trails off, her words losing steam as she lets out a sigh. "It'd be nice to finally win at something, even once."

Her gaze drifts back to the table where her drink was, the temptation to finish it and forget about everything else becoming stronger by the minute. But she forces herself not to give in. Not yet. She takes a deep breath and focuses on your arm around her shoulder, finding strength in your presence that she never expected to feel again tonight.

She looks up at you with eyes that reflect a mixture of surprise, hope, and uncertainty. "Really?" she whispers, not quite sure if she dares to believe your words. A tiny smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she studies your face, searching for any signs of insincerity. But all she sees is sincerity in your eyes, and it's almost too much to handle. "I... I don't know what to say." Her voice cracks as she struggles to find the right words. "Thank you... really, thank you." She pauses, taking another deep breath before continuing. "It means a lot, you have no idea how much it means to me."

Her gaze drifts back down to her lap as she thinks for a moment. "I just wish I could repay the favor somehow," she says quietly. There's a hint of shame in her voice at admitting her own weakness, but she doesn't try to hide it. "I feel like I'm not much of an asset to you right now."

She looks up at you again, her expression pleading for understanding. "Do you think there's anything I can do...?"

Tears fill her eyes at your words, but she refuses to let them fall. She'll hold it together if only for a little while longer. With a small nod, she takes another deep breath and says softly, "Thanks... I appreciate that." There's a long pause before she finally finds the courage to ask, "Hey, want to get out of here? Maybe go somewhere else where it's not so crowded?" She gestures vaguely at the bar, her voice cracking slightly as she speaks. "It feels like I've been stuck in this place all night."

Her fingers tighten into a fist on your shoulder as she waits for your response. Even though she knows it doesn't mean anything more than friendship, the feel of your skin against hers sends shivers down her spine, and for just a moment, she allows herself to imagine something more. Something better. Something real.