L, D and E

Loneliness sat on the velvet barstool, contemplating life and all it's profound mysteries. After all, it was her choice to be alone, the lack of quality people burning so flagrantly in the vortex of her soul. As she fingered the rim of her martini glass, she realized she hungered desperately for a change.

There on the other end of the bar, she recognized Despair. He had the deep, watery eyes of so many others before him. He was the living breathing example of the kind of guy she usually fell for; probably even a Bass player. She knew she could catch his eye-playing with her unruly raven hair, maybe even dancing by the old Juke Box. If she played Leonard Cohen, she could bewitch him into falling in love with her, moving in to her flat, his paintings of redundant shades of black, choking her solitude. For a while, she could make him worship her, believing she must be the authentic incarnation of Pele. He would tell her all his tragedies, as she kissed every scar. For awhile, she wouldn't be so alone. Until eventually, she would dig so deep, deeper still, journeying to the essence of his core, only to find it hollow and dull. Loneliness would be bored and inevitably solo.

She downed her drink and got up to walk out and hail a cab. Tonight would be different. She'd go home, eat something and read herself to sleep-alone. It's better to be alone and lonely, than with someone and lonely, right? RIGHT. As she flicked her hair out of her face, she felt the hard crash of his steely muscles against her delicate body.

Excuse Me.

What?

Since I literally bumped into you, I owe you a drink. Otherwise it's a total jinx, isn't ?

She looked up into the eyes of Satan himself.

Loneliness struggled again with her inner dialogue: Oh god, here we go. Green eyes, black hair, six foot five, toothy grin, cocky. This is the hellbound train of love and I'm getting on fast and hard, knowing full well I'll be wrecked by morning.

Loneliness smiled. Martini please.

The tall man grinned. What's your name?

Loneliness. You?

Loneliness, it's lovely to make your acquaintance. I'm Ego.