It didn’t take long for that warm feeling of alcohol to hit. If only he was sitting here with her in a different context and they were not fugitives.

“So, do you have anyone on this habitat?”

She was flicking her hair.

“No, I never felt like I fitted with the women around here. All they want is to pray and talk about God and babies.”

“How awful”

“I know”

With that, they both laughed.

A punter at the bar briefly turned and looked in their direction. It shattered the moment.

“I’ll go and see if I can find that guy.”

I got up and made my way to the other side of the bar. And there was in his favorite seat. You could smell him from a distance, foul and persistent. He looked ragged and dirty.

Conas atá tú Gerard? An mbeidh ceann eile agat?

“Tá mé go maith. Ní fhaca mé le fada thú.”

They continued speaking in Irish.

“So what’s up Ciaran? Here for another session?”

“Unfortunately not, I’m in a spot of bother actually and you’re my only hope.”

“That doesn’t sound good. Go on, spit it out.”

He relayed the story of what had happened. Gerard grew increasingly crimson.