Creative Writing: Facing Reality

Facing Reality The music blared through the bar, loud and obnoxious in its pounding, in-your-face, club music-like sound, although it was soothing to Lila. She sat in a corner booth, nursing her third beer of the night, and just watched and listened, as if she was on the outside looking in. At one point, while Lila had been staring into space, letting the music fill her senses, it shifted into a quieter, softer song, and she snapped her head to the pitiful dance floor in the corner of the bar, where the patrons stopped their wild dancing and slowed it down, moving into each other, arms around waists, around shoulders. She looked particularly at one couple who were kissing as they swayed back and forth. Their smiles looked forced …show more content…
“Lila,” Julie said, grabbing her arm to stop her forward motion. Her tone was similar to how it had been when she’d first arrive at her table. “Why?” “Why what?” Lila sighed, folding her arms to protect herself from the evening winds. “Why are you doing this?” When Lila opened her mouth to answer, Julie shook her head sharply. “I’m not asking for you to give me the practiced answer, I’m asking you to give me the real one. Why’re you acting like this?” “Acting like what?” Lila asked, raising her eyebrows. “I’m not acting like anything.” “Really?” Julie asked, giving Lila a look. “So being a jackass to others, ‘specially to those who care about you has nothing to do with making yourself feel better?” When Lila said nothing, Julie laughed, unamused. “Because you're life is shit and you feel like shit, that means everyone has to feel that way too? You gotta bring everyone down with you, don’t …show more content…
But in the end, she hadn’t saved anything or anyone, least of all Lila. The problem with Julie was that she didn’t allow for anyone to screw up or make mistakes. And if they did, well, of course she would make it all better for them, she would help them, as the better person who could bestow her good grace and wisdom onto them. She always left making you feel worse about yourself instead of helped. The air she carried with her was on too high a level for mere mortals. Flaws were unacceptable. That was her sister’s biggest flaw, in the end, and she was so blinded by her own superiority that she couldn’t even see that it was a flaw int he first place. “Hey lady, we’re here,” the cabbie interrupted Lila’s thoughts, voice gruff. “Thanks,” Lila said, and handed over the proper amount of cash, and then got out. Her shit-hole of an apartment building looked like it was on its last legs as one side seemed to tilt way too far over to the right on the already fairly steep hill, and the door to what could be considered the lobby was wide open, someone probably forgetting to close it earlier. The elevators were out of order - had been for two years - and so she had to take the stairs up to her third floor, beat down apartment. She heard the television coming from several other apartment on her way up, heard shouting coming from another, and several sounds of people fucking as well.