Slight of Hand

Slight of The Hand

Had it not been for my girlfriend's insistence, I wouldn't have been sitting here, clutching theloose ends of my pockets, sitting at the far corner of the bar, absent-mindedly. Sulking was thenew habit, that had quickly made its importance known to me. It had effortlessly risen to the topand was now consuming a large share of my productive day. Since I was already reeling throughthe detachment process, I figured a little hopelessness couldn't fuel the flame further.

So here I was, running the tips of my fingers around the lips of my shallow glassware. I wasnever a fancy chap, and therefore, I would limit my choices to a Long Island Iced Tea or aMargarita. But something had possessed me to break free from the tattered sarcophagus ofmonotony, and I pointed my fingers to the nearest elixir to bury my anxiety in a Dirty Martini.Perhaps it was exactly what I needed.

The clock's hands seemed to be moving fast, and a few blinks led a storm of customers in. Thesemen and women were all different, all so unique. I've always assumed that the pub was anestablishment not so popular within many circuits, but the crowd refuted my prejudices. In thewaves of human flesh moving in unpredictable motions, a hand rose relentlessly trying to reachthe other side as Moses did. The sea finally parted and my messiah was revealed.

I hugged my girlfriend and her partner. A small round of greetings ensued and the three of ussimply sat there, at the bar. A few minutes had passed, and we raised our hands toasting theimpediment-free road to my companions' engagement. The news made me giddy; part of thereason was genuine excitement, the other could have most easily been envy, though it shall notbe put in the light.

We were in the midst of our conversation when I heard a melodious siren, opting for anold-fashioned. I turned my head around to face a gorgeous best. He smiled at me and Ireciprocated the chivalry. Resisting the charm, I dove right back into our chat, even though Iwasn't an active contributor to the session. With the aid of some magical devices, the guy next tome must've sensed it. I could feel his gaze burning onto my jaw, and I had no choice but to facehis questioning black eyes.

I gave him a faint grin, to which he proposed an offer. Almost immediately he presented a deckof cards, which I thought was odd. Not a lot of men have cards simply laying around theirpockets. He put me at ease, explaining to me his gigs as a small-time magician. I realized I hadonly taken on the offer, to help him hone his abilities. My friends turned their gaze from eachother to the newest sanctioned attraction.

He displayed his acquired talents, transforming the face cards to another; taking out cards fromhis pockets; MY POCKETS, which was a shock. Nevertheless, he solidified his presence as agentle nuisance. Once his set was done, he offered to show me more. I was intrigued and Inodded my head in agreement.

I had been looking at his hands dimwittedly, in the hopes that they would reach into his pocketsto find chains, or ropes, or even small foam balls; an amateur's tools. Instead, I was shocked tofind his thin lips right beside my neck, under my ear. Even though it had been for a briefmoment, my cold skin caught onto his hot breathes. A small shiver ran across my body. While Iwas busy suppressing the goosebumps, his tongue accidentally touched my earlobes. I squirmeda little. Just enough to not be vulnerable, but just enough to make the blood rush down under.

I could've sworn my girlfriend's mouth was agape, but I had no time to notice, I was occupiedmaintaining my sobriety. He returned to his original posture, stuck out his pink tongue, andsigned at me to take the coin out. It was a little wet with his spit and I proceeded to examine thecoin. Certainly, he had proved himself to me and he chuckled away at his abilities.

We talked for a while and he had made himself known to my mates. We discussed work, career,abstract notions of love, relationships, friendships, amongst others that never mattered. It was atthis point that I could see a slight change in my confidence. I guess all I needed was anotherMartini and my girl's forced love.