All Tied Up

Chapter Four: Love is a Sacrifice

September 29, 2024 10:30 PM

"Sharon, I think you should just go. I don't want to argue with you anymore. I am no longer invested in this relationship." He dismisses me.

I roll my eyes and leave the room.

Fine. I'll go, Todd. I pull out my cell phone and enter the number for a cab. The dispatcher tells me a cab will arrive soon.

Todd enters the living room, and stares at me holding my  cell phone. He probably heard me talking and couldn't resist not knowing who it was.  

"I called a cab." I inform him so he can leave me alone.

"Sharon, I'm sorry. I can give you a ride home." He looks apologetic but it's too late. He's hurt me and there's no going back.

"Don't. I am going to a bar."

I grab my shoes, my purse and walk outside, and quietly leave his home.

He follows behind me. God, he is so nosy. You can't ever have a conversation without him. Whenever I try to talk to Margaret, he butts in.

The cab arrives and I enter, paying no attention to Todd. He can stand there all night. I don't care.

The driver is an older man, around his 70s. He has silver streaks in his black short hair, a long mustache that curls at the ends, and a congested nose. I only know this because he sniffles incessantly.

While I'd prefer a much quieter ride, I am accompanied by the song Drive by The Cars and the driver's attempt to loosen his snot.

You can't go on

Thinking nothing's wrong, oh

Who's gonna drive you home

Tonight

It's strange how life works sometimes. I don't know who is going to drive me home but I can think of the people who drive me crazy.

The driver announces that we are here. I thank him and give him a 10 dollar tip. I exit the car and reach for my purse that is still in the car.  He looks up at me, looks down at my waist, and up at my chest. Is he checking me out? I look down at him, literally and figuratively. He coughs and asks, "you got everything, ma'am?"

I nod my head and shut the door. He waves goodbye and drives off while I dust myself off. Watch out, Todd. You have competition.

I plan to drink so much that someone else will call me a cab. On the outside, I hear loud cheering and laughter. As I open the door, three people make their way to exit. Two women and one man ungraciously exit, without saying thank you or excuse me for holding the door. The man reeks of cigarettes and cheap cologne, that his leather jacket will never rid of. The two ladies behind him wear black skimpy dresses that cinch at the waist and show off their breasts. They seem to enjoy matching as they keep singing "we are twinning," obnoxiously.

I finally make it inside and the bar reaps a moment of silence. A few men whistle and raise their beers at me. The women look in my direction with their blank faces as I ease closer to the bartender.

I am able to find an available stool that sits between a couple and a hefty man who looks like he drives a motorcycle. He wears a denim vest, a red bandana,  and leather pants that hug his voluptuous thighs. The couple on the other side of me has no problem with public displays of affection. The man cups her face and sticks his tongue down her throat. She gently scratches his back and pulls away to take a sip of her margarita.

The bartender notices me and hands me a napkin with a coaster.

"What can I get ya, babe?" She asks as she is filling a drink with ice and coke.