Loaded

“What do you feel?”

“Cold.”

“What else?”

“I can’t… say. My finger is freezing off… That’s all I can think about. That’s all I can feel.”

“Do you like it?”

“I can’t say I do.”

S looked down at P’s finger and smiled. She liked P’s fingers. Right from the first time that she shook them. Now, P had one of her beautiful fingers dipped in a small glass filled with ice cubes. It was trembling slightly.

“It’s only been three seconds. How much longer can you take it for?”, she asked P.

P bared her teeth and winced. “I dunno!” She chuckled.

S joined in the chuckle. “I’d advise you start to feel something else besides cold then. That’s the only way you’re getting out of this. Or until everyone else gets here.”

“What?? Why are you doing this to me?! Aaargghhh!”

“I thought you’d like the feeling. It’s a familiar one, no? Cold.”

“Is that what this is about?”

“What?”

“Me not having ‘feelings’?”

“No. It’s about you having feelings. I just want you to dig a little and find them. Otherwise, you might lose that finger tonight, and that’d be sad.” S laughed again.

P looked at S. “Just my feelings, or my feelings for you?”

S looked at P, quietly. She stared at her face intently, as she tried to distill her words.

P smiled and shook her head, then her whole body vibrated.

“Is this even a real game?” She sighed and shut her eyes.

“It was. I mean, it is. I promise”, said S.

“For how much longer?”

“What do you mean?”

“How many seconds now?”

“I lost count.”

“That’s upsetting.”

“Is that a feeling?”

“Oh! Yes!! I feel upset.”

S laughed softly. “Well, you’re free, smart woman. You did well.”

P yanked her finger out of the glass, and grabbed it in mock agony. They both laughed.

Then they fell silent, looking at the glass of ice. P picked up some cubes with her fingers and plopped them into each of their drinks. She took a sip, and S followed suit.

The bartender walked over to them just then with a perfected smile on her face.

“Are you okay, ladies? ‘Need anything? More ice?”

“No, thank you”, said S.

P smiled and shook her head in agreement.

The bartender gave a slight bow and walked off to another customer.

“What do you feel?”

S turned to face P.

“I —-“

“What’s goooooood, darlingsssssssss?!!”

They both turned to face their friend.