Games Of Fools

lazily beneath the hills. A breeze crept over the earth like a thoughtful sigh, neithe

e same as always-wooden beams warped by age, a stale scent of spilled beer and roasted peanuts, and that dim yellow light tha

lit dimly by yellow streetlamps. Devin gave him the usual nod. A couple of the regulars-Luke a

a man dropping into a familiar

, pouring him a mug of s

bottle waiting at the finish line." He stared into his mug. "But hell, I've

iosity already pulling

cks to your ribs. My mom's therapist told me to lay it all out to peopl

s lost somewhere between the wooden beams of th

. We are here for

out the sun from my sky. She was... everything. My best friend. My peace. After she passed, I d

Even the distant bar

his throne and eyes you'd swear were born to heal. She was there through it all. Every breakdown,

k a long drink,

Wants a divorce. Says she never loved me. Just saw potential. Said a friend of

Max wh

a way out of her own mess-debts, loans, life crashing down ar

rd, his cigar for

pay 'em back. House, car, investment accounts-gone. I gave her

ad to crawl back to my dad. That's when I shut down. Stopped writing. Stopped trying. The job at LTN was my la

The clinks and laughter from the re

he silence. "Man, I'm

nod. "Just needed

Paid her rent, bought her textbooks, even got her a damn laptop. The moment she graduated and lande

credit, maxed it out on designer bags and 'business dinners'-which, surprise surprise, turned out to be

ckering behind his tired eyes. "G

as hell won't be the last. But here's the thing-y

faintly. "A

ew start, new dream, even just peace. But y

mused expression. "Isn't tha

ow what that means," said Luke. " But in your situa

know. I just couldn't believe it. Everything hap

. "Life, buddy

head swaying now. "I th

Luke. "We'll make

long while, the corners of his lips curled up-not in joy, but in acceptanc

ed. But for Jake, the night had reached its climax. And

tle town of Pherros like curious eyes, and in the Bull Bar,