Worst Shift Ever at the Bar

So last week was my worst shift ever. I had just gotten out of a long-term relationship and decided to focus on work as a bartender. It's hard to balance emotions while serving drinks, but I thought I could handle it until she walked in with her new boyfriend. I hadn't seen her since the breakup; we both agreed to stay friends for our mutual benefit. She was here with some guy, and they were cozy on one of my bar stools, ordering drinks and laughing together. It hurt me more than I thought possible seeing them like that. To make it worse, she started flirting with another bartender, Alex. I felt so small, like everyone could see how pathetic I looked. My ex was touching Alex's arm and whispering to him. It wasn't overtly sexual, but the looks between them were enough for me to know what they were thinking. By the end of my shift, I wanted nothing more than to leave the bar and never come back. The irony is that this place has been a safe haven for me before; it's where I met her years ago when we both worked here as waitstaff. Now, all the memories seem tainted. I'm trying to be rational about my feelings but there's no denying how much seeing them together stung. It made me question if I was ever really over her in the first place. And now that she’s moved on so quickly, it feels like a personal failure more than anything else.