To drink or not to drink... that is the question

The night, my only friend, had finally arrived, so dark, empty and cold and as black as my heart.1

I walked to the middle of the room and picked up a champagne glass. I decisively walked towards the drinks cabinet and took out the most expensive liquor and filled the glass up.2

I then approached the trinket box and took the poison and poured it in the glass too.3

The mixture started bubbling slightly and felt warm in my hand. I did not mind it at all.4

I was wearing a long silver silky sleeveless dress. My long hair flowing freely down my back. I still was wearing the silver stilettos and everything was as perfect as when I left the house over two hours ago. All but the smudged makeup which was running down my cheeks, mixed with the bitter salty tears. 5

The party I had just attended felt more like a death sentence than a celebration. During the dinner, Michael had never paid attention to me, not in the slightest. He had spent the night talking to Helen, a woman whom he introduced to me as a close friend. 6

The meal had just finished when my betrothed, to whom I was to marry in a week, announced his engagement to his long term lover, Helen, and categorically stated that their wedding was to take place on the very same day that mine was due. 7

He announced all of this in public, on my birthday party at the Lucas Hotel, and he even toasted to their future happiness. He didn't even mention my name or issued an apology or an explanation.8

I was sitting still, in shock, trying to grasp what had just happened. In a split second my dreams had come to an end and turned into a nightmare of which nobody took the slightest notice or pity. She was good looking, I grant him that, but he had behaved worse than a lying traitor. 9

Everyone walked past me to congratulate the new couple. 10

Helen approached Michael and slowly kissed him passionately in the neck, whilst he held her in his arms. 11

From that position, she gave me an icy look and an evil smile that depicted her satisfaction at her final victory. Not only had she stolen my only love but she revelled in throwing that back at my face.12

In a thoughtless and heartless move, Michael even offered to invite me as a special guest, should I wish to attend, as we had been what he described as good friends for a while.13

I couldn't take it any more, no further humiliation was needed. I quietly smiled and shook the head negatively. "That won't be necessary, I have plans of my own, I'm afraid. Now, if you excuse me..." I replied as I turned to the door to try and run away from there as fast and as far as I could.14

I took a taxi and went back home. That's when I decided that my life was not worth living any more.15

Now I was sitting in front of the end, a painful end that was contained in a glass.16

Suddenly, two hooded figures were sitting by the table too but I didn't care, I didn't even look at them. I didn't bother finding out who were they, where they came from, why they were there or how they got into the locked room in the first place. I just kept staring at the glass, holding it in my slightly shaky hand.17

They seemed to be having a conversation between them and me, without me taking much interest in what they had to say. However, my subconscious was fully switched on, paying thorough attention to what they were telling me and themselves.18

"Why rush into that stage, uh? There's still time left in your hands to think things through. You might as well just stop and kill some time considering what you're about to do" stated the blonde guy.19

"Rafael... please... men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them. What is the point?" stated the dark haired man. He then turned to me “Rose, you know its over. Why live when you have nothing to live for? It's best to end things quickly" He was temptingly suggesting me that I continued.20

I was past the caring stage and I thought the bloke had a point as I approached the glass to my lips.21

"Stop, don't you see you're only doing this because you're angry and you don't really mean to finish yourself off this way? You’re vulnerable because you’re hurting and Belial is just taking advantage of that. Don’t listen to him” warned Rafael.22

“You get mad, then get over it. You don’t just approach an irreversible end over a disappointment. Otherwise you’ll never know what happiness the future holds in store for you” Rafael indicated.23

He made me feel as if I was somehow overacting and that there was light at the end of the tunnel.24

“Oh don’t listen to Rafa, Rosie, who knows whether the future is or not better or worse than the past or the present? The present is a point just passed and, seeing what has just happened, why wait for things to get worse? One little sip and your pain will be over for good.” pointed out Belial. 25

“Your thirst for revenge will be fulfilled if you just think of his face, his aching heart when he knows you’re dead because of him. You’re so full of anger… it won’t take you long to just end it all. Go on… just a little gulp” insisted Belial26

I took a mouthful of that damned drink and waited, I didn’t have the heart to swallow it. I was seeing things through eyes that I was not sure were my own. Why should I have to suffer a horribly painful and slow death over someone else? After what Michael had done, surely he was not worth dying over him.27

“Think, Rosie, think. For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. Spit this liquid out, wash your mouth, go to sleep and look for your true love. He’s alone, out there, waiting to be found, tomorrow perhaps” desperately gagged Rafael28

I knew Rafa was right. Now, I only had Steven, just one true friend left but a shy friend whom I never took his feelings into account. Perhaps he was the true knight in shiny armour. After all he would be the one. I only needed one29

“A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world” I thought to myself. 30

I spat the liquid, dropped the glass with the remaining poison, I washed my face and mouth and laid back in the bed, awaiting the new dawn31

Belial left full of frustration and anger, he had been so close to gaining a new soul. 32

Never mind, Rafael had won the battle this time but the war was not over. There was still time.