Lend Some Magic

At 6 a.m. the car sped angrily by.

“Screw you.” Sam said, inside of his house.

And then, “Thank you,” he said.

Knowledge of an abrupt and interactive Universe had stung Sam now for months. Nothing is spared. The driver communicated a message to Sam and it was this: “fall in love with life, or I’ll kill you.”

Amongst the empty vodka bottles and energy drink cans stuck to the countertop during last night’s spills and overflowing consumption, Sam swept his arm for an empty glass, and when he found one he poured water into himself and turned toward the room.

Conclusions entered Sam’s head. “People want you to fall in love with life. It’s all they do,” he thought. “They are angry and it hurts me.”

At 8 a.m. Claudia called and offered Sam a ride to town. He wanted more alcohol and said “yes” and they rode together.

At the corner store Sam sauntered in and lifted his head to say “hey” to the store clerk. Sam moved towards the alcohol at the back of the store. As he closed in on the refrigerator he felt his feet sink--with each step--more deeply into the concrete floor of the store. A hollow feeling built inside of him. He turned to see the store clerk and saw the man with his head down in a confused gaze. Sam inflated himself and pulled away from the alcohol.

A heavy sigh came from Sam’s insides. He left and nodded to the clerk, who was now looking up.

Exiting the store Sam saw a girl on her haunches--hands on her knees--that had a smile on her face. Sam breathed a heavy sigh that fell into a flat smirk. The girl looked at his breathing.

“It’s easy,” the girl said. “It’s a moment. Lend some magic.” Sam strode to the awaiting car.

Sam hopped in. As they pulled out of the parking lot, Sam took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He looked out of the passenger window and saw bodies swinging to a synchronized dance that got tighter as Sam became more prominent in the scene. Sam breathed another heavy sigh. “Magic,” he thought.