John wavered as he stood outside, smoking his cigarette and considering the inevitability of lung cancer. The percocet had kicked in now, and combined with his warm beer it created a numbness within him, a separation between his calm inner self and the world spinning by around him. A cab roared past down the hill, its emissions bleeding out into the world as it passed. John stood strong though he wavered from the effects of the drugs. Though he was numb, sadness managed to seep its way into his perceptions. His apartment was right down the street, in the heart of this, the hippest neighborhood in the city. Only loneliness awaited him there. That girl- what's her name?- She looked nice tonight. The tattoes on her arms had glistened with sweat in the muggy bar in a way that attracted John. Maybe he'd talk to her when he went back inside if he could get her attention. Maybe she'd come up the street with him that night and fill that space occupied right now with only loneliness. Maybe.

As John thought this he wavered, and as he wavered he saw the girl walk past and down the hill, in the opposite direction of his apartment. She didn't look his way.
John stamped out his cigarette and went inside to finish his beer.