Probability Map

thinking

Ran walked out the bar and down the street. She felt the wintry night wind on her neck. She was headed in the direction of Midtown.

Several cars drove by. Someone stopped at a red light too long, and a taxi cab driver leaned on his horn – even though there were signs everywhere warning commuters not to honk.

She kicked a beer bottle cap. It ricocheted off a trash can and rattled down the sidewalk, before falling into the gutter.

A town car pulled up to the curb. One of the tinted passenger windows rolled down and a blond woman poked her head out, “Hey you, where are you going?”

Ran wiped away her tears, before turning around, “Me? Uh, Williamsburg.”

“Really?” the woman said, “It’s that way.”

“Um,” Ran stalled, “I’m new to the city.”

The woman laughed, “Get in; I’ll show you around.”

Ran shook her head, “I’ll pass, thanks.”

“I used to live here,” she said, inclining her head, “I just got back. You know what, if you ever want to have fun, here’s my card.”

Ran took the business card from her slim, manicured hand, “Thank you. I got lost on the way back to the hotel.”

“Point taken,” she said, “Cheer up, OK?”

The window went back up, and the car pulled away, tail lights disappearing into the night.

Ran turned the card over and saw only a name embossed, in bold letters: ‘Dallas Pace.’

She shrugged, flinging the card behind her. It fell in a puddle and floated over the reflected moon.

heartline

Another Language I Forgot

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.”

detox