nepenthe
nɪˈpɛnθiːz/
noun
something that can make you forget grief or suffering.
*
Everyone needs something to take the pain away every so often, and for him, that was her.
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P L A Y I N G C R I T I C S
*
Brandy's smile was plastered across the walls of the gallery, along side other pieces of Saoirse's creative work.
I had only just entered the exhibit for Saoirse's photography, and I had already found myself staring into the frozen eyes of the girl I was undoubtedly in love with.
"Beautiful work, isn't it?" I turned my head to meet eyes with a man I had never known. He had a soft shade of red hair, dusty brown eyes. About an inch shorter than me, hands tucked into his coat pockets.
"Yeah, she's really something."
At that point I didn't know if I meant Saoirse or Brandy as I stared more intently at the work.
"My apologies, Alex," He held his hand out to me. To stay civil, I unwillingly took it with a strong shake.
I held down a sour look at the stranger speaking to me when I hadn't seen the people I was here for yet, "Christian."
"Nice to meet you, man."
The red head was eyeing me subtly, an attempt to find something about me. Unfortunately for him, he was more likely to find a personality in a rock than in me, "You too."
As I thought the conversation was done, I continued along the pieces, my eyes immediately falling to the enlarged photo of Brandy's warm hazel eyes peeking out from the top of a book: 'The Bell Jar'. I wanted to shake my head.
Of course Brandy would read Sylvia Plath. She would find the positivity in the sea of overwhelming pessimism.
I had forgotten about the shorter man next to me until he spoke up again, "You here with Shay?"
Fuck off and let me find my girl.
"Sort of. Brandy, actually."
His eyebrows raised curiously as he unsubtly checked the room for her appearance, "Brandy's here?"
My jaw ticked at his reaction, the fact that he had any familiarity in her. I hid my ill feelings in my tone, "You know her?"
The brown eyed boy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, a deep sigh leaving his lips after a few seconds of thinking over his times with my enigma, "I did, once."
"Once?"
"I made the mistake of not taking the chance when I had it and lost her."
Well, she's mine now, so stay the fuck away.
I grit my teeth at his words, the hidden animosity behind them, "You must have really fucked up to lose her."
He scoffed, his eyes landing on the golden eyed beauty, speaking animatedly with Pierre. His lips pursed as he took a sharp intake of air, "You're telling me."
