Grey Suit Black Tie

Fearfully and Wonderfully

 I bit the top of my steering wheel, blocking out the talk radio and the hum of my running engine. I kept my eyes open, each passing car, each light lit pavement the way hers would. I had never seen so many Malibu’s in such an embarrassing red. It was that or the white Impalas, circling, waiting for me to make my next move. I didn’t have any moves. I just waited.

It was not the drinks I considered the flaw. It wasn’t her escape from her parents. I remembered in early months, dinner with my parents and then her in the corner of my room with her knees drawn up on the edge of my bed. Now she was staying to last call, drinking cocktails with umbrellas and watching Shannon’s sister wipe down the bar. I tried prayer, something I promised to do everyday, but the words sounded childish. The same four lines repeated over again, broken up only by requests that ruined the rhythm and trailed off at the end. I punctuated with In Jesus’ name and looked back to the road.