The before:: Wisteria
She rode him vigorously, shaking the bed. The headboard slammed against the wall in frantic rhythm. Crying out, she dug her fingers into his bony shoulders and flung her head back. Reaching her peak, she released her grip and climbed off the stranger.
With bated breath she lept across his exhausted form, and landed on the cold peeling linoleum floor. Shuddering, she picked up her clothing and swiftly threw them on. No words exchanged as he watches her hop around getting dressed.
No spare glances were sent his way as she marched out of his apartment.
Tears bubbled and blurred her vision as she walked down the same miserable path she always did. With tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat she stumbled aimlessly. Hugging her arms close, her restricted lungs worked overtime. Heaving and wheezing she crumbled like a shriveled flower.
Tears bubbled and blurred her vision as she walked down the same shameful path as
The before:: Morgan
There they were, the perfect couple. Sitting on my couch without a care in the world, giggling and gazing at eachother with diamonds in their eyes. And I was without a beverage. Goddamnit. With a roll of his eyes, he slapped his hands on the arms of his chair. The golden couple stared at him with matching head tilts. Giving them a weak smile, he stood up and turned to the smallest kitchen in the neighborhood. Opening the freezer he found it empty. With a heavy sigh and growing agitation he slammed the door and turned to the doorway.
"I'll be back before the sun goes down."
He stormed out of the house, desperate for a release. His mind full of rain and lightning. Thunder strikes as his heels hit the pavement. He thrust his hand deep into his pocket feeling for the crinkly wrapper. Hard candy to sweeten the bitter impulses threatening to leak out.
Escaping your own mind is harder than one thinks.
Meeting:: Now
The streets lay quiet, dim under a setting sun. The sleepy city plays its song to the beat of horns and the low hum of it's residents. A sharp crack disrupts the city song, harsh and heavy footsteps echo on the empty street. The streetlights above illuminate him but leaves a long shadow to play on the cold concrete.
He walked on the side streets, passing tall apartments, crossing streets without hesitation. Finally coming into view of the brightly lit red neon sign spelling out 'Jay's Liquor' - his footsteps softened. Walking in he gave a short nod to the man standing behind the counter and headed straight to aisle two.
○●○
Counting her breaths and mumbling low, she stood. Swaying a bit before regaining balance she leaned against the rough brick wall. Shaky fingers brushed the messy hair out of her face to behind her ears. With her rubber arms she swept dirt off herself. The streetlights looked like fireworks. Blinking once, twice, they shrunk to a normal light with insects buzzing about. Like a memory of riding her father's shoulders one fourth of july year, covered in the stain of watching him leave.
Wiping her bleary eyes, she left the brick building and headed towards the red neon sign down the way. Feeling the urge to bawl, she looked above at the shrinking moon, wishing.
Wiping under her eyes and putting her fingers through her wild hair she walked in. The little bell chimed and two heads whipped towards the door, where she stood, sullen.
Painting a smile on her face she gave a quick wave to the man behind the register and ignored the man roaming the aisles. She walked slowly around the spinning shelves they had near the entrance. Brushing her fingers over the collection of mini bottles she grabbed three.
She soon found herself near aisle two, where the dark liquor was kept. She kept her distance from the man, who is standing in front of what she wanted, pretending to look at another bottle she waited for him to leave.
Grabbing a random bottle, she looked it over and put it back. She twirled to look at the aisle behind her. Tugging at the bottom of her hair, she glanced at the man. Dishevelled hair, long fingers with indecipherable ink, not bad looking at all she decided. Glass bottles clinked against eachother as he grabbed one. Candy apple eyes strike her own under the flickering fluorescent lights, his gaze a sharp whip. As he passes her, he leaves behind a scent of fresh laundry and Captain. Taking up the now vacant spot she rushes to grab a bourbon from a lower shelf. The bell chimes again, she turns to see the man stepping out the door. She walks to the counter to pay. Slapping her tiny bag on the glass she rifles through condoms, chapsticks and mints to find exact change. The cashier raises an thick eyebrow at her, judging behind his red glasses. Looking at his watch she spills the money into his hands, nods her thanks and walks out. Tearing into the brown paper bag she reaches in grabbing the first bottle she could touch. Glancing at the yellow banana wrapper, she sang in her head; this shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! A slight tilt of her lips and she cracked the seal, opening it and quickly chugged it. Throwing the waste in the brown bag she grabbed the other two, not paying attention to the label she clawed at the caps. Chugging one after the other she tossed them in the corner garbage. Shaking her arms, wiggling her fingers and stomping quick she shook off the heat burning in her throat. Feeling an intense buzz she looked to the stars but became blinded by the street light hovering above her. Scrunching her eyes tight she stretched above pretending to hold the light in her hands.
