ANDREW BLACK

Chapter 2

Merlissa Highmore

Melissa brought the cup to her lips, the brown liquid swishing in her shaking hands. He was merely a farm boy...a man of no riches or title, she found herself thinking. She hated she had thoughts of him. She hated that she returned to her old ways because of him. She hated that she hadn't enjoyed the sun's warmth in days because of him but rather stayed in her home, with nothing in her company but a cup and a bottle of brown fluid one of which she changed frequently.

She gulped down the rest of her whiskey feeling the burning sensation down her throat as the hot liquid fell into her stomach starved of food. Her stomach felt heavy and she felt light-headed, she knew, of course, this was not the effect of hunger but the murderous amount of liquid she had been downing for the past few days.

Her maidens were worried by her change in behavior, but they also knew of what-no who warranted such a change. She knew of their love for her, and even the most loyal ones promised to hate him if it would allow her to eat. To this, she only ate a pinch of her bread, sipped a spoon of soup or had a shred of chicken before her throat closed up and she found herself choking on the food. Even water had proved difficult to swallow. She was slightly gladdened...no that was too strong a word there was nothing that warranted happiness in her life right now. She would prefer the word 'satisfied' as she did not have to force down food which stared at her pitifully and evoked memories of him.

What she did find a little more than satisfying was the whiskey she drank. She never liked the taste but what she did like was the numbness it brought to her emotions. She liked its ability to transport her from the misery of this world to a dreamless slumber in just a few cups down her throat. She loved how the days passed her by rather quickly when she held her newfound companion in her hand. She must admit though she missed the sun, she could live without it though, if it prevented her the chance of running into him. She did not want to see how he faired without her; she did not want to know if he had found himself another lady probably a richer one at that. As she chugged down another cup she wondered what she did to displease him that he would hurt her so cruelly.

Was she too stingy with her money? Were her maidens and servants too rude to him because of his status? Did he dislike her home; did it not suit his taste?

She had asked him of this of course and he had told her in reply there was nothing for her to worry herself over. He had also said he loved her, but she knew now that was a lie. Hence, his satisfaction with her home was probably a lie as well. Still, she wondered what she did to cause him such dissatisfaction that he would betray her. A thought bubbled in her mind and she wished not to pay any attention to it, she needn't more things to worry herself over. Still, it lingered and she became more curious as she was anxious so reached for the thought grasping it as it sprung to life in her mind at her mere attention towards it. However as the thought registered she began to hate her snoopy nature, but she let the thought play about in her mind.

Was she too old for him?

This thought caused a frown on her face as she threw her cup, its fall cushioned by the carpeted floor and she brought the bottle to her bright red-stained lips, drinking straight from it. The thought of him with another woman, a younger one was just too horrifying to think of.

Even as she drank she still thought of it, she still thought of him with a younger and more beautiful woman and much richer than she was. This caused tears to form at the brim of her eyes, but she held them in. She was no frail little lady that she would cry over a man, she was a determined and strong woman.

'Yet you drank over a man,' her inner thought cut in.

At this point, she could not tell which was worse her tears or the alcohol, but these thoughts were for another day as her head began to ache from the alcohol and her bedchamber began to spin. She saw multitudes of her queen-sized bed and the colors of her carpet, curtains, bed sheets all blended into a blur of white. She focused on restabilizing her vision, that at least took her mind away from him. She knew her whiskey was working. Now she needn't need to think twice which was the better option in a heartbeat she would choose her ever so reliable companion; whiskey.