A Taste of Whiskey

Monroe sat at the foot of her couch, her legs crossed as she felt the plush of the vermillion carpet beneath her. She looked at her phone again as she took a pull from her cigarette, letting the rush of the menthol soothe her nerves. 12:51 am. It’s so late, I’ve lost count of how many nights he’s left me hanging. He promised he would make it today. She thought, as she ran her fingers through her turquoise hair.

She wasn’t sure where her paranoia ended, and reality started. Maybe Darcy had simply been too busy to spend time with her. Or maybe he had grown tired of her, like Darla and Val had warned he would. A third terrible scenario crawled into Monroe’s mind.

Maybe he’s with another woman. She pictured Darcy in another woman’s arms, softly caressing her and searching her body as he had done for Monroe. She swallowed through disgust as she began patting her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, trying to force the terrible vision out of her mind. “No, no, no, no, no!” She said, panic dripping from her voice.

“These are learned behaviors. This is just my trauma, it’s not real. Darcy is fine, we’re fine, and he’ll come home. It’s fine, I’m fine.” She said, trying to convince herself. She spread her body throughout the carpet, resting her head on it. Her eyes drooped, she had been staying up late every day for the past few weeks waiting for Darcy to come home, but he never did. She decided that today she would just sleep. She thought of cerulean eyes as she drifted off.

***

Rapid knocking ripped her from her sleep. She glanced at her alarm clock. 3:59 am. She frowned. God, who’s knocking so late? She rose to her feet, walking with heavy steps. It’s probably Dave, that psycho. She thought as she reached the door.

When she opened it, she was surprised at who was in her doorway. “Darcy? It’s 4:00 am what are you doing here?” She asked feeling a little frustrated.

“Is it? I’m so sorry, Mon, I-I lost track of time again. Sorry for knocking, I forgot my key.” He said hurriedly.

Monroe looked at him with worried eyes. He didn’t look good, she couldn’t tell what it was, but something was wrong with him.

“I just needed to see you.” He said after a moment. His eyes examined her figure, she was wearing one of his black t-shirts, and a pair of black panties. His eyes grazed over her as he relished how the fabric of his shirt clung to her form. “You look…I missed out.” He added.

Monroe approached him, getting into his bubble when it hit her. The stench of alcohol. “Jesus, you reek of alcohol. Darcy, have you been drinking?!”

Darcy recoiled at her words. He knew coming here in this state was a mistake. “No! Don’t be absurd!” He yelled harshly.

Monroe took a step back, eyes wide, he had never yelled at her before.

Darcy kicked himself after seeing her reaction. What the fuck am I doing? “I’m sorry, that came out meaner than I intended.” He said softly. He stared at her for a minute, noticing her puffy red eyes. “Have you been crying?”

Monroe turned her head away from him, crossing her arms as she spoke. “Keh, don’t be absurd.”

Darcy’s eyebrows knotted. “Okay, I deserve that.”

Monroe lowered her gaze, her eyes unable to meet his. She couldn’t help but picture Darcy with another woman. It just had to be the reason he was acting so strangely. He was going out and meeting women. He had to be. “Darcy, are you cheating on me?” She asked with a severe expression.

Darcy stared at her in disbelief. She thinks I’m cheating on her? “What? No—Jesus Mon, how could you think that?”

When Monroe looked up again, he realized she was fully crying, tears staining her olive skin. “You’ve been acting weird for weeks. You disappear, leave me hanging, you don’t call, you don’t text. It’s not like you, at least it’s not like the person I’ve gotten to know these past few months.” She said as she choked out the words. “So, I’m asking you, are you cheating on me?”

Darcy shook his head violently. “No! God, no!”

“Then where have you been?! Why are you acting so weird!?” She demanded through a scream.

Darcy stared at her. How do I tell her? How do I even find the words to tell her I’ve relapsed? I can’t. “I—I…I don’t know how to say this.”

“You did cheat on me didn’t you?” She asked meekly.

“No, nothing like that! I just…” He couldn’t find his words.

Monroe stared at him with wide eyes, narrowing them as she spoke. “Don’t lie to me.”

Darcy reached his hand out to her, his words failing him.

“Please, please tell me the truth, Dave.” She begged. Monroe’s face twisted once she realized she had called Darcy “Dave”. She collapsed on the carpet, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of her words.

Did…she just call me Dave? He thought as he stared at her slumped body on the carpet.

“You can go if you want.” She said finally. There’s just no coming back from that. She thought.

Darcy regarded her through a frown. I’m hurting her. I don’t want to hurt her anymore. “I’m high.” He finally managed to say.

Monroe gasped, her eyes snapping to Darcy, as she picked herself up off the floor, approaching Darcy once more. “What?!”

“I didn’t cheat on you. I’ve been drinking and doing drugs.” He admitted.

Monroe’s eyes searched Darcy’s. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He balled his hands into fists as he spoke. “I’m…I’m ashamed. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have lied.”

Monroe brought her hand to the side of his face, caressing him gently. “What are you on right now?”

Darcy inhaled sharply, dropping his head slightly as he spoke. “Coke.”

She hugged him tightly, resting her head on his chest. “We’ll get through this.”

“I don’t know how.” Darcy said, a pained expression taking over his eyes.

“I do. We’ll get you cleaned up. I’ll make you some food. Then we’ll discuss what to do.” She said as she took him by the hand, pulling him deeper into her apartment.

Darcy felt a rush of adrenaline at her words. She’s trying to clean up the mess I made. I can’t put that on her. I refuse to do this to her. She doesn’t deserve it. He pulled his arm away from her, she turned to look at him in confusion as he spoke. “I got myself into this mess. I’ll get myself out.” He said to her sternly.

Monroe stared at him in confusion, her eyes glistening with tears. “What?”

Darcy turned around, heading towards the door. “Goodbye, Monroe.” He said with finality.

“No! Darcy stop! Let me help you!” She yelled out after him, but it was too late. He was gone.