Crimson

Part 3

As I gather my stuff to go home, I think about surprising my wife with a bottle of burning Lust, it’s our 3rd anniversary after all. We both work two shifts trying to save money for the future but not tonight. Tonight was about me and her and the present.
I rush out to the chilly evening and wrap my cardigan tighter around my torso. The sun is sinking ever so slowly and colors the sky blood-red. I can only get glimpses of the sky as the high smoke-puffing shafts gnaw at it like the dark teeth of a monster. I pace faster through the dingy alleyways and get to the Emo-Shop. I see the bright lights of it; this shop seems weirdly out of the place here. Lights dance, advertising all kinds of emotions, but this was preposterous. We all knew in it this district, no one could afford anything more than high quality happiness or lust or maybe peace. I pass the lights and the bell rings. Alfred is behind the counter, obviously high on a bottle of Merriment. He smiles widely and shouts: “Heeeey Victor, how are you feeling today?” ha-ha-ha he laughs loudly. Emotion sellers’ jokes. I stare at him and say: “hey Alfred, I’m feeling empty as always, hoping to buy some.”
He laughs hard and his belly shakes. “ wonderful… so tell me what you want today? Joy? Glee? Bliss? Love? Affection? Or no, want something darker? Sorrow? Grief? Fear? Loathing?”