Dreams That Only Poison Us

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Days were often boring for Akeem. When you had a job that was but a fraction of what you primarily aimed for, it tended to be not as satisfactory. People needed to hate each other more so that he’d have more work. That would be nice, even if hearing them not always was. He found some ways to occupy himself but when he was truly bored, he only longed for the night. Because he might work during the day but he lived at night. He was a regular of the town’s few clubs and bars. The loud music stopped your brain from thinking, the alcohol eased off any tension and there was always someone you could find if you needed a little extra fun. He never believed you could find love in a club. Flings, yes, love, no. Unless love meant for you someone you sleep with more than once. That was his kind of love.

Akeem had been in the club for a little while already. And he noticed her. She was by herself. Or maybe her friend left, but that did not matter for she was alone right now and that was all that mattered. Well, that and the fact he noticed her glass was empty. One look at her could tell she was not uncomfortable being alone. She must be scanning the place in the same way as he was. Not that it intimidated him. He would never admit to being intimidated by anyone, let alone some pretty woman that seemed to be waiting for a man to ask her if they could pay her a drink.

Akeem had never been shy in self-confidence. He’d wear that self-confidence while walking to her. He was not going to ask the bartender to give her the message he would pay whatever drink she wanted. If she wished to turn him down, she would do so in his face. If she wanted to trick him into paying her drinks all night, she would also do it in his face. “Hi,” he said as he reached her. He kept looking at her eyes as though he had not already checked the rest of her. “I was wondering if I could buy you a drink.”

Tag: Brooklyn Fisher