How To Fake a Smile
Written 28 October 2021
I went to a singles bar for the first time.
The lounge was full of smoke and smell
of heavy liquor. The bartender quite busy.
Music blared “Smoke gets in your eyes”.
I smiled despite a small tear that got lost in my beard.
I sat alone at the counter. Too many people, but
I did not like to sit alone at a table where I would be
more conspicuous. Finally the drink arrived.
I looked at it with distaste. Am I to drown
my sorrows by getting stinky drunk?
Frankly it was not my style. But what was I to do?
A woman sidled up to me. Asked for a drink.
She was already half drunk. I gave her my own.
I smiled. She stared at me. Was I happy there?
I did not answer. Crying because she left me.
Was not going to make things better.
So I smiled despite the fact that it was a phoney smirk.
The bartender promptly put another drink before me.
I drank it up and left into the cold air outside.
It was then that I could not help but cry.
FICTION
Copyright © Victor Buhagiar | Year Posted 2021
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