Drinking Game
With a brief hesitation I put the gun to my temple,
I squeeze the trigger
Click.
How did I get here?
I'm in a damp basement
Completely vacant
Except for a table with two chairs
A half full bottle of rum but only one glass
Along with me and this stranger
And one bullet loaded in the chamber
His face is rough and beaten
I do not recognize him and yet,
He seems oddly familiar
He stares at me,
With a smile on his face
I pass the piece to him
Without changing his expression
He spins the cylinder,
Lifts the gun to his head
And squeezes the trigger
Click.
He slides it back to me
Gawking villainously
It's as if he knows he won't lose
I'm beginning to sweat
Why would I take on this bet?
I take the revolver in hand
Such a beautiful instrument,
Glossy and silver
A gateway to Hell,
I spin the cylinder
And lock it in place
I reluctantly push it against my head
Then squeeze the trigger
Click.
I breathe a breath of relief
Audibly chattering my teeth
I place the gun on the table
The stranger is still smiling
With no worry
He yanks the piece from the table
Shoves it in his face
And squeezes the trigger
Click.
Squeezes it again
Click.
While he's looking dead in my eyes
Squeezes it again
Click.
Holy shit
He didn't even spin the cylinder
I'm playing with a madman
Never breaking eye contact
He tosses the gun at me
I fumble it and drop it
I lean to pick it up
That's when I glance at him
His smile faded to a frown
Almost looks angry as I reach down
I grab the revolver
My hands are shaking now
I open the cylinder
Check if the bullet's still there
Like it would have disappeared
Give it a spin
I look back at him
His frown returned to a grin
He motions to me to give it back
I hand it over
He puts another bullet in
And gives the cylinder a spin
Then reaches his hand out to return it
Now I'm really getting nervous
My face frozen with fear
Sweat's dripping from my pores
My foot's tapping with anxiety
Meanwhile he’s eyeing me
Not moving an inch
Like he's stuck in time
I take the gun from him
Put it up to my chin
And squeeze the trigger
Click.
The stranger’s still smiling
I slam the piece on the table
He takes back the gun
I open up the rum
Then drink straight from the bottle
And watch as he loads the revolver,
A full clip of six
I'm in a state of duress
Mentally stressed
It's not even my turn yet
He's taking his final breaths
He holds the gun pressed
Against his own flesh
And squeezes the trigger
Click.
Again
Click.
Again
Click.
He hands me it back
With that smile still on his face
My mind is scrambling
Going berserk
He wants me to go through with it
I clench my hands on the table
My fingernails scratch the surface
I reflect back on my sins
That quench my joy from within
It's not worth fighting it anymore
My life has hit its lowest point
That must be why I'm here
I swallow away my fear
And clutch the revolver
Gander at his smile one last time
Close my eyes shut tight
Raise the weapon to my head
Scream all my anger out
My finger bounces on the trigger
With tears running down my face
Veins are popping out of place
I yell even louder than last time
I can't do it
I open my eyes to see the stranger
He's gone.