Shattered beer bottles littered the dirty floor, chip bags were thrown carelessly open on the coffee table, getting more stale minute by minute. A messy-haired blonde lay sprawled in the old recliner in the corner, a passed-out drunk latina on top of him. A dark skinned man sat slumped on the couch, marijuana still clutched loosely in his hand, as he quietly snored in a petite latino's face, whose body was resting uncomfortably on the arm of the couch. A young black woman lay curled up asleep on the purple couch, her head of curls in the lap of one self-proclaimed drama queen, who was teetering on the edge of sleep.
A pale bespeckled man sat against the glass coffee table, draining the last of his beer with disinterest. He sneezed unexpectedly, jolting a certain brunette from her sleep aspirations.
"You're still awake?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep, and reeking of beer and marijuana.
"Yeah," Mark muttered, setting the empty bottle down carefully next to him, "I can't sleep when I'm drunk... the opposite of all these guys, obviously."
A small chuckle escaped from Maureen's lips, trying to be quiet enough to not wake Joanne. It was silent for a few minutes as Mark unlaced his tennis shoes and placed them on the coffee table, stretching his aching legs in front of him.
"Do you still love me?" a whisper so quiet, Mark could have mistook it for a mouse.
"W-what?"
"I just need to know... do you still love me?" whispered Maureen, a little louder this time and more confident, as she gazed straight into her ex's glazed eyes.
"Of course", said Mark, looking down now, a roughness taking place in his voice, "I will never have another girlfriend, or much less a date without comparing them to you... You're irreplaceable, Maureen."
Maureen was suddenly glad that they were as drunk and high as they were, because a sober Mark would never talk about anything like this, especially anything about their former relationship. She paused for a moment, trying to absorb this new information.
"Are you saying that I was the love of your life?" she dared say, hoping for a response.
"Yes."
It was silent again for several minutes as Maureen wiped away the tears she hadn't notice fall down her face. She had wondered alot over the past few months if Mark's feelings had changed since her relationship with Joanne. She had tried to summon up the courage to ask before- but it never came out right. But now that she had asked and gotten her answer, she wasn't so sure she was ready for it. I've ruined his life, thought Maureen... if it wasn't for our breakup, he would've been happy the rest of his life. With the love of his life.
Silence engulfed them for several more minutes as Maureen tried to comprehend Mark's words, but the beer had slowed her thinking skills done to a low minimum.
"I'm sorry." was all she could say.
Mark smiled, pausing to glimpse the tears she thought she had wiped away.
"I forgive you."