Remnants

Limbs heavy, she stumbles out of bed.  After an hour of sitting at the window looking for an out of this situation that hasn’t crossed her mind yet, she decided to raise herself out of bed and walk to the bathroom to start her day.  Staring into the mirror, she wipes the black from under her eyes; last night’s remnants of darker looks and late night tears.  She glides over to the shower, stripping the day’s dirt off her skin, peeling it off in layers.  The scalding water causes a redness to grow within her skin, steaming; cracking the layers of late night trysts and a multitude of different alcohol that she refuses to turn down.  A turning in her stomach and she vomits into the drain, proof of too much fun being had.  She remembers the long sips of vodka she took every few minutes the night before.  The cheering of her friends, only amplifying the power of the tiny glass she raised to her lips, head shot back and swallowed.  By the time there was an hour left, she was downing coffee like it had the magical power to sober her up.  But soon the end came and we were shuffled out of the building and ushered to our cars.  Eyes spinning, dry and flinching, she sat behind the wheel.  Hands at ten and two, she breathed her way sober, willing herself to be mentally cautious while physically capable.  Her hand raised to join the key that lay in the ignition.  Turning it, the engine sputtered and came to life.  Silently, she drove, not letting on how wasted she actually was, precious cargo in the passenger seat; and she attempts to fight the wind that ultimately veers them consistently to the left.  After hours of pushing right, she arrives at her destination, unable to remember the past two hour drive.