What My Name Means: The Miserable Life of Abner Bright

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Bubbles. Floating to the top. Dancing. Swirling all around and popping. Clustered together, like a little family, all struggling to stay warm. Three of them, all snuggled in the corner. I watched them, my eyes sagging. The two on the end were small - they were so close, they were almost one. Another stayed away, larger, more eager looking. It slowly floated to the pair, inching closer and closer. The two sailed off, around and around, chasing each other, until finally, the big bubble caved. Pop! I couldn’t hear it, but I knew what it would sound like. The two bubbles soon morphed into one. Large, just like the other one. Soon, it too popped. I couldn’t help but sigh. Slowly, I lifted my cup and drank. Sprite. Fizzy and bubbly. I’m sure I killed a few bubbles with that one. More than a few, probably. I drank half the glass already. With a small clink, I set the glass back on the bartop, watching the ice cubes bob up and down, almost tauntingly. I could just make out my wavy reflection in the liquid gold - I didn’t look like a wreck; I was a wreck. No, I was atrocious. Physically, emotionally, mentally, everything. With contempt, I pushed the ice cubes along with my finger, blurring the hazy mirror. I couldn’t stand it any longer. Not just my reflection, but everything. I couldn’t stand it. Weakly, I pushed the glass to the side. I tried studying the wooden bar top. At least it was still. Somehow, it still managed to get me. Everything got me these days. I could feel my glasses slowly falling off my face. No matter. I let them. Plunk. Right on the wood. I hoped it hurt. I forced myself to look up. My glasses laid there, lenses face down, arms outstretched and pointed skyward. My eyes danced along the walls. Bottles of wi... ... middle of paper ... ...tomach churning. She smiled warmly. Lazily, I pulled my glasses off. Set them on the counter. Turned back around. A weird glance from Lola. “You okay?” A gruff mumble. “Fine.” “Bull. Tell me what’s wrong.” I...couldn’t. It was none of her business. Whatever. I didn’t feel like talking anyway. Tammy and Mr. Perfect dancing together. Some bullcrap slow song blaring in the background. Couples swaying. Drinks flying. Kisses in every corner. Wallflowers. A life of the party, shaking her hips, like she did to every song - slow, fast, or in the middle. Vaguely, she looked like a girl from my art class, some shy looking girl who wore big, nerdy glasses and oversized sweaters. Name was Marie. How ironic. Anyway, still. Whatever. Whatever. Whatever. Done, done, done. With everything. Spectacles on the counter. I twirled them around. Stared into my glass. More bubbles.

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