A guy walks into a bar... and leaves.

I scrub the bar clean for the tenth time in the past hour and glance up once again at the man before resuming my work of filling another drink order. I've seen that expression on so many, and most likely will see it on many more.

He looks like he's just one more drink away from that point where he loses hope and leaves.

Three beers served to a younger man at the other end of the bar who takes them back to his table of raucously laughing friends and I take another look at this one.

High end cognac and a necklace that sits unclaimed on the table; the bottle swiftly dwindling. I want to tell him to give it up, she's not coming, but I'm just a bar tender. Been one for years. Just want my tip at the end of the night so I let it be.

He sets down his glass after finishing it, check his watch, then runs his hand through his hair again. It was well groomed before, not so much now, and the last trace of hope leaves. There goes the drink I predicted.

I've seen that expression on many as I've said, so I am not surprised when he dumps the necklace into his pocket, puts bills into my tip jar, then walks out silently leaving the half empty bottle behind. I shake my head then continue working.

She stood him up.

I glance up at the clock on the wall, scrub the bar clean, then take another order for a double shot of tequila. Just another unlucky man I've seen in my years of bartending.