The Game
The couple in the apartment had finally settled down, their last argument long forgotten. Everything in their lives was back to normal, there was no break from the every day routine. They wove in and out of rooms without exchange of glances or words of greeting.
The man across from me took advantage of the peace. He played a card that was not often played. The colors on the face of the card were still crisp, the light reflected off the laminated gloss. Even the edges of the card as he laid it down on the table to the far left were still compacted tightly. It made a distinct thud as he placed it down, as he purposely flicked it down.
The oval background on it was a solid mousy brown, the figure on it was clutching his sides and roaring with laughter. He wore a cobalt blue sweater that reached up to the base of his neck and dark grey slacks. His head was tilted back, and a cartoon oval nose protruded out. Parenthesis were used to emphasize motion on either side of the man’s chest and nose. On the bottom of the card in clear crisp block lettering was the word Happy.
The man in the world below approached the woman in the other room and began to make suggestions to her over things they could accomplish together. He offered her many things, a vacation, a new hobby, time spent together enjoying life. The woman listened intently but did not respond to his requests, she merely stared back blankly into his eyes.
“He’s trying to make you happy.” the voice commented from the dark abyss that surrounded us.
I let out a half breath of disgust and disbelief, happy? I thought I was responsible for my own happiness.