Whiskey Love

Sarah lazily opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling. If it wasn't for the rumbling in her belly she probably would have just stayed glued to the bed in the same position for the whole day just as she has done for the past week. The sun peeked through her window gazing at the light blue walls and beautiful rays of sunlight beamed across the room. She noticed its beauty only for a fleeting moment until the negative thoughts began to creep in her mind and take over her day. She found the strength to drag her sluggish body to the refrigerator and opened it. “Empty of course”, she mumbled to herself. Opening the wooden cabinets she looked for the dry leftover crackers she had for dinner last night. Two measly crackers revealed themselves, she chuckled sadly as she flung it in the garbage. “This must be what depression feels like” she questioned herself as she plopped down on the couch. The empty bottle of whiskey on the glass table caught Sarah’s eye. Sarah stared at the empty bottle and felt slightly comforted. Whiskey was the only thing that has kept her company lately. She could almost taste the smoky, spicy whiskey flavor in her mouth. Sarah’s appetite for food suddenly disappeared and a smooth, strong drink was the only thing she had a taste for.

Sarah grabbed her long tan trench coat and headed out the house towards Flo’s Bar. The cold winter air gave her a push as she walked three blocks to the neighborhood bar. Sarah pushed open the door. “Hey Sarah”, said Ms.Flo. Ms. Flo was a short gray-haired lady. She had a comforting, deep baritone voice that made her customers enjoy talking to her. She and Sarah always shared small talks discussing the weather or whichever news story made the headlines that week. At this moment Sarah didn’t feel like talking, she just wanted a drink. It was noon on a Wednesday. Flo’s bar was pretty empty except for a few locals. “Hey, Ms.Flo”, Sarah mumbled while brushing her bangs out of her face. “You’re here pretty early today,” said Ms.Flo to Sarah. “It’s never too early to be at Ms.Flo’s”, said a guy sitting three seats down from Sarah. Sarah glanced over at him and his little black book and wondered what he was writing. He put down his pen and took a sip from his cold beer, slightly lifting his red cap to expose his light brown eyes while giving a wink. “That’s right”, smiled Ms.Flo as she walked over to him, popped open another beer, and placed it on the bar next to his little black book.” “What can I get for you today Sarah?” “A double shot of whiskey Sarah responded.” “Coming right up," Ms. Flo said as she grabbed a small glass cup from under the bar. Pouring the whiskey in the cup, and grabbing a napkin she gently placed the drink in front of Sarah. Sarah picked up her hand and ran her index finger around the rim of her cup. She looked in the cup at the dark brown liquid that seemed to have a slight glow to it. Picking it up, she put the cup to her mouth and took a big gulp. A wave of heat stung her throat while chills rang throughout her body. Sarah tuned into the smooth jazz playing in the dimly lit bar. She faintly swayed her head from side to side and patiently waited for the whiskey to kick in providing her much-needed relief. Lifting her hand she signaled Ms.Flo, “Another double shot please”, she asked as she finished her cup.

Stumbling down the street Sarah trusted her blurry vision to lead her home. The sky was full of cotton candy pink and blues as the sun was beginning to set. Sarah practically spent the whole day at Ms.Flo’s listening to music and conversing with the customers. Whiskey always made Sarah forget about all her problems and a new woman was on the loose, she enjoyed this version of Sarah, even if it was only for a couple of hours. Sarah continued to walk aimlessly away from the bar. A loud honk came from the right of Sarah, as she quickly leaped out of the way of a small light blue car. “Watch where your going lady”, hissed the man as he yelled out his window to Sarah. “You-yo-you watch where you going!”, she stuttered back. The wind picked up. Sarah was disorientated, placing her hand in her pocket to keep herself warm she clutched her pocket watch that her grandfather gifted her before his passing. Sarah has had the watch for years, last winter she placed it in her jacket pocket for luck. For Sarah, it felt like nothing has been lucky for her lately. Maybe the pocket watch was bad luck thought. “It had to be”, she said as Sarah assertively decided that she was going to get rid of it.

Scared to go home and be alone Sarah decided to stop at her friend's house to visit him. The liquor in her body was making her blood rush as she walked to her friend Harry’s. “Harry!”, Sarah yelled up at the window and waited for a response. Sarah sat on the stoop and leaned her head against the railing. She lifelessly stared at the street light on Harry’s block. “Harry-y-y-y-y”, Sarah yelled again until finally, Harry answered the door. “Why didn’t you just ring the bell?”, Harry questioned Sarah. “I don't know”, Sarah said as she headed towards the kitchen to raid Harry’s fridge tripping over herself. “Got any food, got any whiskey?”. Sarah looked at him with her slightly red and teary eyes. “Food I can help you with, but when it comes to the whiskey it looks like you don't need anymore.” “Whatever”, said Sarah as she flung off her jacket and her pocket watch flew out. Harry picked up the small watch and admired its intricate details. “Keep that silly thing”, said Sarah, “it doesn't work anyway.” “ I have a friend who loves pocket watches, he’ll appreciate this.” “Well give it to him,” she replied, “because I sure don’t want it.” Sarah sat at the kitchen table and began to make a sandwich. Before she knew it she was fast asleep on Harry’s couch. Harry grabbed covers from the guest room and placed them next to Sarah before heading up to bed.

“Why did they have to fire me?” Sarah questioned herself as she stared in the mirror. It was now a week later and Sarah hasn't been outside at all. Ms. Flo’s bar and Harry’s house were the last time she went outside, took a bath, or even ate for that matter. Even her phone has been dead for a week. Thoughts of worthlessness overpowered her mind and raced through Sarah’s head." "I showed up on time every day. I went above and beyond the boss's expectations. Always had a great attitude but maybe I just wasn’t enough for them. Maybe I’m just not enough for anybody”, Sarah thought. “Nothing ever goes right for me”, Sarah said to herself as tears fell from her almond-shaped eyes onto her small round face. Eventually, Sarah took one last look at herself and decided that she was going to make herself feel better. She didn’t even know where to start as she stared around her apartment and stared at herself. Sarah headed to her small bedroom and grabbed a pile of dirty clothes that have been sitting on the floor. She made her bed, then took a nice long hot shower. Already Sarah was feeling slightly better. She no longer wanted to feel sorry for herself. The hot steam fogged up the mirror and began to relax Sarah as she stood there and let the water wash over her. After the shower Sarah threw on a pair of grey sweats and a t-shirt, she grabbed her flip-flops and went to check her mail. Her mailbox was overflowing since she hasn't checked her mail in weeks. Sarah went back inside and sat on the couch ready to face the daunting mountain of mail that she held in her arms. Bills, bills, and more bills as she carefully sorted through each envelope. One enveloped caught Sarah’s attention. It was a letter from Solomon’s Treasure Antiques with a 20,000 dollar check for the purchase of an Antique 1827 VACHERON V&C pocket watch. This has to be a mistake Sarah thought as she stared at the check. “Pocket watch”, she thought to herself. She remembered she gave the watch to Harry. She quickly searched for her cell phone and ran to get the charger. She hastily plugged her phone and impatiently tapped her foot on the ground. "How could this be," she thought. "Was Pa’s watch was really an antique and why didn’t he tell me?" Suddenly she felt bad for just giving it away in such a crude manner. Her phone chimed, as all the text messages and voicemails came popping up at once. Seven text messages and two voicemails from Harry. Sarah pressed play on the last voicemail. "Hey, Sarah. My buddy said that you got a gem on your hand with that pocket watch. I think it might be worth something. He wants to purchase it. I told him that you wanted to get rid of it. I gave him your name and address. Get back to me when you can.” Sarah dropped the phone. She couldn't move because she was so shocked. "Is this truly happening”, she wondered. Sarah tried to remember the time when her grandfather gave her the watch. He didn't say anything special she thought. Suddenly he remembered he also gave her a book with the watch. Sarah scurried to the nightstand and opened the bottom drawer where she kept the book. As she opened it for the first time a small note fell out. The note read,

My Dearest Granddaughter,

My years of living have taught me that life may not always be easy but it will always be worth it. There will be those days when your tears will flow like a river but there will also be those days when your smile will be just as bright as the sun. If ever you do feel down, look up to the sky and remember, just as the clouds pass by tough times do too. In the deepest of darks is where we find the brightest of lights. My Sarah you are a bright light. Never be dulled by life's misfortunes. Those tough winds may try to knock you down but like a sturdy tree, you will shake but you will not break. Out of all the joys and wars I’ve experienced in my life, one thing rings true. Love conquers all.

Love always,

Dad

P.S. Hopefully this special antique watch comes in handy for you one day.

Sarah read the letter over and cried. Except for this time when Sarah cried, she smiled too.