Passing Permanent Ache

She awoke.

Headache,

Throbbing against her skull like a rhythmic tribal drumbeat.

It will soon pass.

-

She sat up, her hand to her head.

She shut her eyes.

Waves of pain,

Everywhere.

A champagne bottle lay on the foot of her bed.

Empty, except for a single drop on the mouth.

Hungover?

Most probably.

-

She staggered to her feet.

Headed towards the toilet.

Looked at herself in the mirror.

Just as she expected.

Disheveled hair,

Blotched skin,

Dry lips,

Puffy eyes.

She had been crying.

She struggled to remember what happened.

The champagne’s effect was working

Her mind was blank.

A clean empty state.

-

Until she remembered him.

The tears came

Slowly

Forming in her eyes

And rolling down her cheeks.

She clasped her hands to her mouth.

Everything came back

And her tears kept falling.

She wanted to forget.

But the memories were there

To stay.

-

Headache,

Throbbing against her skull like a rhythmic tribal drumbeat.

It will soon pass.

Heartache,

Crushing her weakened heart into a million pieces.

That will stay.

 -2010