Tag: cognitive dissonance

Leftover Resonance

~ Piece, of the Sky

tropical

The rain splattered on the leaves, rolling off them. The ground was saturated, the tree trunks soaked.

Alli lay on the bedspread and stared up at the ceiling. A familiar room. A solution to so many wants.

“I’ve wanted you to come over and watch a movie, for the longest time,” Jan was saying. Her voice seemed to come from far away, from deep underwater – from an ancient, sandy ocean floor.

“Do you ever think you could leave her?” Jan lit a cigarette. Menthol smoke filled the air. Alli breathed it in and glanced at Jan.

“Do you think you could ever love me again?” A voice in the darkness, “You don’t seem to love Ran.”

Alli did not trust herself to speak. Instead, she looked out the window, at the endless lines of water running down the oaks, in the summer night.

She didn’t say anything. She turned around and slowly re-crossed her arms. At this moment in time. At this juncture, at this crossroads, Alli wanted to reserve judgement.

Jan ground out the cigarette in the ashtray on the dresser and turned her full attention back to the TV. A nightingale sang, unperturbed by the downpour.

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Songs

“No More Tears Left to Cry” – Ariana Grande

“Love on the Brain” – Rihanna

“November Rain” – Guns N’ Roses

“Purple Rain” – Prince

Another Language I Forgot

~ Piece, of the Sky

Hyrule_Castle_Courtyard

It was late at night; Karen sat at the bar in The Gem. It was an old, wooden bar. The wizened barkeep polished the counter-top with a rag.

Karen nursed a mint julep. Ran sat down beside her, in a black leather bomber jacket. She ordered a whiskey on the rocks.

“It’s nice to see you Karen,” Ran said between sips, “Boy, has it been a while.”

“Yes, things have changed since you headed out to California,” Karen smiled.

“I went west, but I’m back,” Ran laughed.

“But you didn’t come back for me, did you?” Karen feigned indignation.

“Of course, I did!” Ran guffawed, “No, no, I met someone.”

“Out there?”

“No, in the Caribbean actually,” Ran admitted.

Karen put her chin in her hand, “Tell me about her.”

“Well, she’s an accountant, and she’s lived here most of her life. She likes lifting weights.”

“That’s it?” Karen frowned.

“Yes, Karen, that’s it,” Ran grinned, “We can’t all be genius authors.”

“Hmm,” Karen mused, and finished her drink.

“You’re like a mother to me you know,” Ran said, “I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“I was more than a mother to you, I hope,” Karen responded, with a sidelong look.

“She’s never going to measure up to your standards, is she?” Ran drained her drink and signaled for another.

“Accountant sounds responsible,” Karen thought aloud.

Ran considered her drink, “You wish we were still together.”

Karen also looked down, “Of course I do, Ran.”

She gave her a wan smile, “We had our time Karen.”

“Why are you meeting with me then?”

Ran looked confused, “Because I care about you? Because I haven’t been to New York in a long time?”

“You never understood me at all, did you?” Karen looked at her.

Taken aback, Ran recomposed herself and muttered, “No, maybe I did not.”

She left a twenty on the bar, to pay for her drinks, and straightening her jacket, left, walking out the door.

Karen watched her go. She turned to the bartender, “Another.”

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