-some drinkers, though, fell into the fourth category of just ignoring the outbursts of everyone else in favor of stewing quietly alone.

Shiki fell into that group. All she wanted was to come in, get one drink, and kill enough time she could walk the block home and go to bed without thinking anymore about today or seeing anything else. Unfortunately she was setting herself up for failure, with people around her reminding her of her own frantic customers, and this damage claim still unfilled in front of her.

But if anyone's looking for a semi-safe place to sit, the stool by her is empty, and her haunted face is certainly a step up from the guy two seats down sogging up his burger.