sobriety as lukewarm diet coke by MP Armstrong (20, Ohio)

[Content warning: alcohol]

the dinner party looks like a scene from a movie:
grappa splashes into shot glasses, then into little
flower-painted espresso cups over a laugh track.

how hilarious, the silly forgetful american hostess 
forgot to count her guests before her shopping trip
at the grocery store, the one set to "mambo italiano."

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she remembers that she has a sober guest, though,
and with a benevolent smile, pours diet coca cola
into a tiny bowl, the only remaining dish in the house.

she seems to think the act of shots themselves can 
cement sobriety into belonging, but the sweet drink
devolves into failed, carbonated dribbles down the chin. 

so sobriety slinks off-camera, into a slick, pungent film 
of lemon-scented dish soap. sobriety washes the little
cups for everyone’s morning-after coffee. and sobriety 
is still sipping the slow, sad swills of lukewarm diet coke.