The Thing

Saturday night.  Crowded bar.  Music.  Whiskey.  Laughter.  Cherries.  Spiked Shirley Temple in the bathroom.  More laughter.  Ice cubes.  Whiskey.  Eyes.  Locked.  Confident strides.  Converging of energies.  Conversation.  Hesitation.  Questions.  Glances.  Another drink, please.  Music.  Heat.  Stories.  Flirtation.  Sex.  Sex.  Sex.  Whiskey.  A touch on the back.  More conversation.  Facades.  Walls.  Fears.  Hopes.  What do you do?  Small talk.  Big talk.  Medium talk.  Lips.  Eyes.  Teeth.  Wolf.  Lamb.  Seduction.  Eruption.  Fire.  Heat.  Volcano.  Mussing hair in the bathroom.  Lipstick.  Sex.  Fear.  Music.  New bar.  New friends.  Dancing.  Heat.  Sweat.  Lips.  Tongues.  Whiskey.  Hands.  Grabbing.  Lusting.  Lust.  Craving.  Intoxicated.  Uninhibited.  Let's go.  Sidewalk.  Hands.  Grabbing.  Fun.  Laughter.  Fear.  Cars.  Taxi.  Lips.  Touching.  Fear.  Fearlessness.  Excitement.  Nervousness.  Hidden flask.  More at home.  Apartment.  Music.  Conversation (brief).  Touching.  Kissing.  Unbuttoning.  Lips.  Eyes.  Skin.  Heat.  Untouched drinks.  Fumbling.  Laughter.  Underwear.  Hesitation.  Not again.  Fear.  Forget it.  Sex.  Pleasure.  Ecstasy.  Fun.  Sex.  Love.  Not love.  Just sex.  Silence.  Cigarette.  Soft words.  Promises.  Hopes.  Fear.  Asleep.  Awake.  The moon.  The stars.  The silence.  Finally, sleep.  Dreamless sleep.  Morning.  Sobriety.  Coffee?  Empty cups.  Embarrassment.  Shame.  Emptiness.  Words.  Breath.  Clothes.  Call me?  Taxi.  Promises.  Emptiness.  Goodbyes.  Silent cab ride.  Morning air.  Headache.  Emptiness.  Worry.  Texts.  Dry mouth.  Dry heart.  Home.  Sleep again.  Wake up alone.  Wake up alone.  Alone.  Alone.