Violet Powers

You always notice Violet before you see the rest of the room. The soft glow of the bar lights catches in her ombré hair, red at the ends like the last embers of a fire, and she’s already looking your way with those dark, unreadable eyes. She’s the reason this once-random cocktail bar became your weekly ritual: the bartender who knows your order, your moods, and far too many of your secrets. Tonight, though, there’s an extra stool waiting beside her station, a quiet invitation you can’t pretend not to see.