First Story! Just an idea I've been toying with…
I'll continue if it receive good reviews.
Insert Disclaimer Here: All characters… blah blah blah…
Lauren's throat now burned, but she didn't care. She threw back another swig and let its presence fill her chest and lungs. It was bitter, really; not just speaking of the taste of the alcohol, but the predicament she found herself in. Yes, there was the discovery of another world. The discovery of the Faes and the divide. There was Nadia and the curse. Her role in all of it… And there was Bo. She lingered on the thought of the other woman for a second longer, before snapping away from that dangerous path.
She looked at the now half-empty glass loosely hanging in her hand, and placed it delicately back down on the bar. No, what she was talking about was the fact that these crazy happenings and discoveries used to shake her down to her core, but now she found herself - more often than not - numb from it all. She exhaled. It was bitter, alright, that the only time she felt grounded, connected and not weighed down - the only time she was able to feel anything nowadays - was when her palms held a cold glass. Then she felt like she was… here… finally able to exist.
There were other instances from other sources… however brief. A soft smile unconsciously touched her lips as she marveled at the contrasting feel of the glass to the woman's skin. She recalled the warmth she felt on her palms and how different it was from the biting cold she now cupped in both hands.
"It's an age-old remedy."
Lauren was snapped from her thoughts. Looking up to find the owner of the voice, she found Trick eyeing her quizzically.
"What is?" Lauren asked, glancing away with a little embarrassment for her thoughts. After composing herself, she looked back at the barkeep that now stood in front of her on the other side of the bar.
"That right there," Trick motioned towards her glass with a nod of his head. "Age-old remedy passed down from my family, generation to generation."
Lauren, knowing Trick was setting her up, asked "What does it cure?"
"Bad days and heartbreaks… Beer brewers have been hunting my family for its recipe for years!"
Lauren could not help but smile.
"See, it's working already…" Trick said with more playfulness. He watched as the woman's smile left her face as quickly as it had come. "…so which is it?" He inquired, now with seriousness.
Lauren looked up briefly at Trick, "Both…" She chuckled, "… and neither."
Trick remained silent, willing for the woman to continue.
"Every dead-end… every disappointment…" Lauren finally continued, sighing, "Everything stays the same. It's just… taking its toll."
Trick leaned in and looked the woman in the eyes, "You're beaten up, NOT beaten. Remember the difference."
Lauren downed the rest of her drink and stood up to leave. She reached over and squeezed the man's arm in gratitude. Trick placed his hand over hers as she was about to pull away to still her movements, "Look Doc… as your friend, I can't NOT try to steer you away from this path. I'm willing to help you as much as I can… But this? You're walking a very fine and very dangerous line that even I can't protect you from."
Lauren slipped her hand out from underneath the barkeep's hand and grabbed her jacket off the stool next to hers. "It's been five years, Trick. Five years of getting beat up… It's time I start fighting back."