Abstain and enjoy.

Writing 101, Day Five: Be Brief

You stumble upon a random letter. You read it. It affects you deeply, and you wish it could be returned to the person to which it’s addressed. Write a story about this encounter.

Today’s twist: Approach this post in as few words as possible.

Brevity is the goal of this task, although “brief” can mean five words or five-hundred words. 

I wandered a little from the brief (no pun intended) – but I hope this has a similar effect.

She wakes, still wearing her jeans, her mouth dry and stale from last night’s alcohol binge. Her vision is blurry. What time is it? What time did I get home? Why do I keep doing this to myself?  It feels as though someone is driving an ice truck repeatedly into the back of her head. The room spins and she races to the bathroom, just managing to make it to the toilet before throwing up last night’s cocktail of beverages. As the stench of cheap wine and Vodka attacks her senses, she throws up again, her stomach creasing violently.

Nauseous, she stands and reaches for the door to the bathroom cabinet, wanting to take her toothbrush. She pauses. There is a note stuck to the mirror with chewing gum. Written on the note are Aesop’s words:

Abstain and enjoy.