Ellis remembered an evening with her husband, Mark. They had been married for almost 25 years. Their life had turned into a dull, predictable routine.

That evening, Ellis noticed something was off. Mark looked uneasy, shifting in his seat.

“What’s wrong?” Ellis asked, watching him closely.

“Nothing, everything’s fine,” Mark said, waving her off. But Ellis knew he was lying. She had always been able to tell when he wasn’t honest. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for him to speak.

Mark sighed deeply. “Alright, we need to talk,” he said finally.

“Why? What happened?” Ellis asked, her voice tense.

“Do you remember my business trip from a few weeks ago?” Mark asked, avoiding her gaze.

“Yes, with Donna,” Ellis said slowly.

Mark looked at the floor. “We slept together,” he admitted.

“You what?” Ellis said, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I don’t know why it happened,” Mark said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our 25th anniversary. You’re the only woman I’ve ever been with. I guess I started wondering about things, and it all happened so fast. But, Ellis, it was a mistake. I’ve felt terrible ever since. I love you, only you.”

“How could you do this to me?” Ellis asked. She didn’t yell, but her heart felt heavy, as though it might break.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I’ll never do it again, I promise,” Mark said, his voice trembling.

“Leave,” Ellis said firmly.

“Don’t do this, please,” Mark begged.

“Go. I can’t look at you right now,” Ellis said.

Mark nodded and walked to the bedroom. Ellis sat silently, her mind racing, barely noticing when he left.

“This is the saddest cocktail I’ve ever seen,” a voice said, pulling Ellis out of her thoughts. She blinked and looked around, realizing where she was.

She sat at the bar, staring at the divorce papers Mark had signed. They sat right in front of her.

She had filed for divorce and forced Mark to sign them. Yet, her own name remained unsigned.

It had been weeks since she learned about Mark’s affair, but she still couldn’t move on.

Ellis turned toward the voice. She saw a young man standing nearby. He looked barely older than her daughter.

“What do you want?” she asked, frowning. “I’m not in the mood to talk.”

“My name’s Leo,” he said with a smirk. “I’ve been watching you come here night after night. You sit alone, looking miserable. Then you whine to the bartender about your marriage. It’s getting old. Pretty pathetic, honestly.”

“If you came here to insult me, don’t bother,” Ellis snapped. “And I’ve seen you leave with a different woman every night. So tell me, who’s more pathetic? At least I know what love is.”

“Ouch,” Leo said with a laugh. “You’ve got some fight in you. I like that. Look, I’m not here to make fun of you. I’m here to offer some help. Give me a few days, and I’ll get you back in shape.”

“In shape for what?” Ellis asked, narrowing her eyes.

“For seducing men, of course,” Leo replied.

“I’m 42,” Ellis said. “I’ve only ever been with one man.”

“Exactly,” Leo said. “That’s why I want to help. So, what do you say?” He held out his hand.

“What’s in it for you?” Ellis asked suspiciously.

“It’s a challenge,” Leo said.

Ellis sighed. Then, reluctantly, she shook his hand. She wasn’t interested in flirting with men, but she figured a distraction might not be the worst idea.

Over the next few days, Leo dove headfirst into helping Ellis reinvent herself.

He took her shopping at trendy boutiques, insisting she try on clothes that were far from her usual style.

Ellis initially hesitated, standing awkwardly in front of the mirror in fitted dresses and bold colors.

He didn’t stop there. Leo coached her on how to hold her head high and how to speak with conviction.

He even pointed out men at the bar for her to approach, handing her opening lines. At first, Ellis felt ridiculous.

She stumbled over her words, her hands shaking as she introduced herself. But after a few tries, something changed.

Men smiled at her. Some even asked for her number. For the first time in years, Ellis felt seen.

Still, one thing nagged at her. Leo’s charm with women, though effortless, felt empty.

He flirted easily, laughed at their jokes, and disappeared with a new woman every night. One evening, as they sat at the bar, Ellis broke the silence.

“Why do you do it?” she asked. “Don’t you want something real?”

Leo avoided her gaze. “What’s the point?” he said.

“You’re scared of getting hurt,” Ellis said gently.

Leo paused before answering. “I’m not ready for anything serious,” he finally admitted. “I’ve seen what happens when people fall in love — it ruins them.”

Ellis shook her head but didn’t press him further. She knew fear when she saw it.

One quiet evening, Ellis sat at the bar, sipping her drink, when a man approached her. His name was Ryan.

He was polite, with an easy smile, and spoke confidently.

He complimented her dress and smiled at her often. But as she sat there, Ellis felt her thoughts drifting.

She remembered how Mark used to make her laugh until her sides hurt. She thought about how he always seemed to know what she needed, even when she didn’t.

“I need to use the restroom,” Ellis said, suddenly standing up. But instead of going back, she walked out of the restaurant, got into a cab, and went home.

The house was silent. Family photos hung on the walls, staring back at her. Ellis saw the unsigned divorce papers on the table. She picked up her phone and texted Leo.

@Ellis:

Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in over a week