Rita’s Bottle

She took a last swig of her wine and dropped the empty bottle carelessly in the sand. It made a soft thunk as she sat at her usual place overlooking the sea, and she turned towards the sunset. 

The refreshing winds of the incoming night blew in her hair, and she smiled, remembering the last time she sat there. It was on a clear afternoon like this one, and she had more than just the setting sun to warm her up. She unconsciously touched her hand, the one that once held that of another, and shivered.

She closed her eyes and listened as the waves gently crashed unto the shore. Their chorus was joined by the cries of the seagulls and steady yet fast-paced beating of her own heart. 

“Rita.”

She opened her eyes at the sound of a familiar voice. 

“Rita.”

She quickly looked around to see if anyone was there, but no one else was in her little spot on the beach that afternoon. In her heart, she knew that it was impossible to hear from him again, but she secretly enjoyed the torment of hope.

She could feel the alcohol’s relaxing effect slowly spread from her forehead to the tips of her fingers, so she leaned back, her eyes on the horizon. The sun was close enough to be fully embraced by the sea, and she smiled sadly. She wrapped her arms around herself, remembering, remembering.

Just then, she felt the poison she mixed in the booze take hold of her, just as it had that of her lost love. As she convulsed on the sand, her thoughts were on the beloved face she was soon going to meet.

“Rita.”

The sun set in the heavens as her soul left her body on the beach. The waves washed over the empty bottle, burying it deep into the sand.

–

Image source: deviantart.com/nikeecc/art/Photography-Bottled-706691262
First written March 2, 2018.
#150