In This Place

Just Breathe

"And these mistakes you've made, you'll only make them again."—Anna Nalick

"Not yet." Cory said. "The ones I read are saying Kris is now a virtuoso. As well as an amazing composer."

Cory caught the note of pride in her voice. And why shouldn't she be proud? She glanced at Kris who was taking a cautious bite of the Chicago dog. It amazed her how the girl could so neatly eclipse herself from a conversation through the simplest of distractions. But again, knowing the way Kris had grown up, at some point it had become a learned art. She watched as the girl chewed, swallowed, then looked at her with a sudden smile.

Oh, this is really good! I've been missing out on this in my life."

Cory smiled back, a sudden lump in her throat.

And what had she done with everything Kris was? She'd taken her own self-destructive tendencies and forced them on the girl, much like cutting her own wrists then holding the bloody skin to the girl's lips and demanding she take a taste.

Cory didn't like where her thoughts had turned. She took a deep swallow of her drink.

"If a Chicago dog is made right, they are the very best of the hotdog world." Cory said then waved a hand at Switcher. "Unlike that Cheeto-coated monstrosity Switcher is choking down."

"Ehhh...fuck you, don't knock it til you've tried it." Switcher replied. "So...Kris is now a virtuoso? Wasn't she before?"

"I thought so too, but I guess not. Bronya told me a virtuoso was someone who could develop the capacity to play to an unknown realm." Cory explained. "Something like that."

"I'm not a virtuoso." Kris interjected as she put the last of the Chicago dog in her mouth. "Corelli is a virtuoso. Along with Joshua Bell, Enescu, Midori, Heifetz...I can't hold a candle to the way they play."

"I don't know. Bronya seemed pretty convinced, and she definitely knows violin. She gave me a play-by-play throughout your whole concert." Cory said.

"Was that the old broad sitting on the other side of you?" Switcher asked.

"Yeah, why? You want her number? One granny isn't enough for you?" Cory retorted.

"You're such a hateful bitch. Think about it Cor...two old broads and me. They know a thing or two, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah? Well, that's because they've seen a thing or two. More like countless thousands of things. Doubled. Anyway...she called this morning and had some advice about the entire fiasco of last night." Cory said. What Bronya had told her about picking her priorities had surfaced now that she was halfway shit-faced and again she wondered if it were really that easy.

It might be that easy, but it didn't feel right

"Yeah? And what was that?" Switcher grunted. Cory had forgotten how he hated advice other than his own.

"Well...she called to tell Kris how brilliantly she played...which she DID." Cory shot Kris a quick look as the girl started to shake her head. "And then...she told me that the best thing in life to do was to get up in the morning....uhhh...go out on your balcony..." All of the rum Cory had consumed suddenly caught up with her and she lost her train of thought. "... pour a shot of...of...Glenfart liquor and just appreciate...umm...everything."

She was done. Cory picked up her drink and took a sip, oblivious of both Switcher and Kris's incredulous stares.

"Well." Switcher sat back and stared at Cory as his mouth twitched. "Looks like you need to be cut off. Glenfart liquor?? Are you playing with me right now? Knowing how I love good alcohol? Are you playing??"