Bytes of Life (Part 3)
BYTES OF LIFE (PART 3)
“I want her hair.” The thought passes through her mind like lightning…there for a split-second, then gone. Her flat green eyes never glow with envy or jealousy. She dresses whichever way is most comfortable. Today was a fly-on-the-wall type of day. Her brown Victorian-style dress was neither frilly nor flashy. She watches the people around her as if reading their thoughts. She has no need to dress up anymore. Her one true love was gone. Combing her hair seemed like a waste of time these days. Jewelry was worn on days long past. It was a status symbol. She was married to the man of her dreams. It seemed years ago, even though it was only a few months. Colors look drab, smells go unrecognized, and everything tastes like cardboard.
“Would you like another,” asks the bouncer-slash-bartender. His blue eyes glitter in the dim smoky haze.
“Yes, please.” She stares blankly at the back of his tight gray shirt.
She digs in her purse for a five dollar bill. A worn photograph catches her eye as a tear silently races down her cheek. The people in the photograph cast jovial smiles up at her. She nearly doesn’t recognize her own face with a grin on it. Quickly grasping the five dollar bill, she closes the snap on her purse and wipes the tear away. That was another lifetime.
She gently places the five dollar bill on the bar. Her hand still shakes with emotion.
“It’s covered, Katie.” The bartender slides the bill back to her. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” she paused for a moment. “I’m fine.”
She flashes a fake grin at him and sips the glass bottle. The bartender serves the thirsty masses of people that just walked through the door. They had already had enough liquor for one lifetime, just like she’d had enough love for her own lifetime, and then some. © Jade 3-4-07
