You pay for your drink. While putting on your coat, you make eye contact with D., a good friend you haven't seen in some time.

D. is already walking across the room toward you before you have a chance to speak, and pulls you into a tight hug.

"Where have you been?" D. demands in mock-anger.

Relief swells. You have friends, after all. People who love you.

You return D.'s hug with more vigor than you intended, but they stay there, laughing.

"I'm sorry," you say. "I've been a bad friend."

"It's been a hard time for everyone," D. says. "I guess I can forgive you, but only if we make immediate plans to get dinner."

"Tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night," D. confirms. "And then we'll have to keep making plans after that so you don't try and slip away again!"

You have to laugh at D.'s bluntness. It's what you like about them. D. tries to cajole you into one more drink, but you have work tomorrow.

"Tomorrow night then," D. says. "We have a lot to drink about."

You're practically giddy with happiness as you walk home. You crawl into bed and try to repress the smile that keeps spreading over your face.

It's easy to fall asleep, you realize, when you have something to look forward to.