I open the molding, neglected doors
The stench of piss, beer and vomit surrounds me
The faces are the same
Withered, soulless and filled with pain
Eyes are glassy and dull
Here they wait
For death
For love
For anything
For nothing
An old whore slithers to the stool next to mine
“You can beat me, she says
fuck me
it will make you feel strong”
It probably would, I thought
but not now
There would be time for such twisted madness
Later
Now, I need a beer
An old man sitting across the bar
Stares at the decaying ceiling
his eyes are cold, and evil
as if he saw god
Suddenly, his eyes roll back
His face slams down toward the bar
smashing his beer mug
His face spurts blood
like some macabre fountain
His bulky mass falls to the floor with a vacant thud
There’s a five-dollar bill were he had sat
I look around to see if anyone noticed
No, same mindless, blank expressions
Just soothing sounds of their senseless babble
I cross the bar quickly
pretending I’m concerned
I lean down towards the old drunk
Snatching the five with my hand
“He’s fine, I say”
As if I even care
he could be dead for all I knew
no one is paying attention anyway
But now I have more money for beer
Just another night at my favorite tavern
Not at all pretty
Just real
