I leisurely walked into the bar. It was a dingy Friday night with dimmed lights and Beethoven playing on low. The place carried a depressing atmosphere, with oak furniture and floral patterned art nouveau wallpaper. There was however one little ray of sunshine. That little ray of sunshine was a nineteen year old wearing light skinny jeans and a white sleeveless shirt which constricted his chest. He was the same height as me and his face told of a natural innocence that I had lost.
I approached him steadily. I observed this rose in a patch of weeds, lonely nursing a water among the middle aged alcoholics.
"You want me to buy you a drink?" I inquired. He turned to face me and in my 20 years id never seen bigger puppy dog eyes. He stared at me as if he had seen a ghost, and it made him very cute. I must have surprised him.
He nodded silently and I bought him another water and myself Buckfast. We discussed pointless conversation topics until I invited the boy, James to return to my apartment for the night. He nodded his, agreement and we walked the seven miles to my home.
On the way, his feet began to hurt, and so I giggled, carrying him bridal style. I effortlessly swung his legs up and walked the remaining miles carrying him.
*
One week later, I groaned and slammed my fist on the alarm, the machine giving a final wheeze before crashing, probably for good. My arm moved slightly and brushed an overflowing ashtray, causing it and all its contents to spill onto my-- I mean, our, floor. I screamed obscenities and dragged my slim naked body out of bed to shower.
"Luke?" A quiet voice came from my bed. I turned to see the shining glow of my rose amongst thorns, James.