The tavern, nestled in a corner of town, buzzed with energy that evening—a place where stories spilled into the air, mingling with the faint haze of tobacco smoke. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the wooden tables, and the clatter of bottles and the hum of laughter drowned out any softer voices. It was a haven for the rough-and-tumble, a place where tough men in leather jackets and inked skin roamed freely, and those who served them remained unseen, unnoticed.
In the midst of it all was Emily. A server, just another figure passing by, moving with a quiet grace that few seemed to notice. Her appearance was modest, her denim jeans and simple pale top not standing out among the chaos. Yet beneath her composed demeanor and weary smile was a woman who, for years, had learned to keep her emotions locked away—hidden behind a veil of indifference, shielding herself from a world that often overlooked her.
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