Page 99 of Glass Half Full

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She pauses, staring over the crowd into a memory only she can see, and a shadow shifts over her face, the darkness creeping into her tone as she continues.

“When I was a teenager, they gave me a champagne glass at a wedding

Filled it halfway up and said ‘Enjoy it! That’s all you get.’

I thought about pouring it onto the ground.

I thought about tasting one bubbling sip at a time, making it last as long as I could.

I thought about downing the whole thing in one go

Feeling its warmth bloom in my chest

Leaving me thirsty for the rest of the night.

For the first time in my life, I understood the question

‘Is the glass half empty or half full?’

When I left home a few years later, they threw me a party

And put a glass of red wine in my hands.

I tapped it ever so slightly against the drinks of my family and friends.

I whispered ‘Cheers’ and took one small sip.

I had learned by then that sometimes one glass is all you get.

Life doesn’t come with free refills

And the bottle is usually too expensive for you to afford.

So I took what was handed to me

And balanced my glass even as my arms started to shake

Even as my palms started to sweat

And the drink got harder and harder to hold.

I was jostled by the crowd

Jostled by the voices and sounds

Jostled by advice and opinions and doubts served up with a smile.

I squeezed even tighter.

I stood very, very still

But the shaking didn’t stop and the glass was too smooth.

I painted the floor with merlot

And crystal shards glinting in the light.

I clawed at the pooling liquid.

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