Marissa Holden

Selfish Encounters

Serenas long red fingernails tapped on the wooden table as she waited for Travis. On the table sat two wine glasses and a half empty bottle of merlot. Travis’ wine glass sat crystal clear, whilst smudges of bright pink lipstick coated the rim of Serenas. Travis was now twenty-eight minutes late. Serena exhaled loudly, not out of frustration, but in attempts to pull herself away from thinking obsessively about Travis. Vivid flashes of the countless flirtatious interactions they had shared in the office made her feel giddy. She scanned her eyes around the carefully decorated beer garden she was seated in. Her gaze was met with many gruff, disgruntled patrons who projected energy of resentment and exhaustion. Serena knew immediately that the bleak energy coming from these men were closely related to the activities they performed between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm. Activities which this population of people deemed unavoidable.