One Song
"Steven, why am I here? At some seedy bar? I have a family to go home to and a husband. I can't keep meeting you whenever you call." Jackie pushed her hair over her shoulder and climbed up on a bar stool.
In his alcohol colored glasses, Jackie looked like the perfect women. She was beautiful and poised and he felt like he had the brass ring in his hand…and he lost it.
"So I was listening to this song you like by ABBA. You know how much I hate them but this one spoke to me. Can you just sit and listen to it one time?"
Jackie sighed and put her purse on a napkin on the sticky bar. Hyde pulled a quarter from his pocket and walked to the jukebox and pushed D8.
The poignant solo of Winner Takes it All spoke to him from the speakers of the old jukebox.
I don't wanna talk
About the things we've gone through - How I treated you like crap when you deserved better
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history – Then you met some other man who appreciated you for being just as perfect as you are.
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too – I made you wait too long and now I'm the loser.
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play – Zen isn't all that it's cracked up to be
The winner takes it all
The loser standing small – Oh Steven, I don't think you're a loser – in my heart I'll always love you
Beside the victory
That's her destiny – My destiny was to be with you but I'm happy now
I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there – Jackie, I took you for granted, God I'm so sorry
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there – and Steven, I thought by forcing us to be together…I thought we'd be happy. I was wrong.
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules – and then I gave up on us and you gave up on me.
The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear – Jackie you will never know how much I regret not going with you to Chicago
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain. – You only had to trust me….what was so hard about that?
But tell me does he kiss
Like I used to kiss you? – We were so good together – I never knew love like I knew it with you
Does it feel the same
When he calls your name? – Jackie, how can you lie with another man and not think of me?
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you – How could you have cheated and not thought about me?
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed – I would give my life for one more chance dollface
The judges will decide
The likes of me abide – I'm not in a position to judge you Steven. This is your life. This is the one you made. I only hope you're happy.
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all – I'll never be happy until the day I can be with you.
I don't wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand – Oh Steven…it was nice to see you again but I can never leave my family. I'm sorry but that's how it has to be
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad – No, I'm sorry that I ruined what could have been
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence – I will never be the man I could have been…with you at my side.
But you see
The winner takes it all – You won Jackie…you have my heart in your hands – you are the winner
The jukebox song ended and Jackie smiled uncomfortably. There really wasn't anything left to say. She was the winner and she had it all.
Steven was only a spectator in her life and that would have to be good enough for him.
The End