Many things can tempt a person. Whether it be love, money, a mere gaze. That enticing whisper within your mind.
The young woman sat at her desk, various piles of parchment and letters stacked neatly into miniature towers before her. Her room which had once felt so large had begun to shrink in her thoughts. Pristine walls cleaned clear of cobwebs creeping closer together until a sense of isolation lurked in the hollow air surrounding the woman's frame. Hollow until tainted; tauntingly pressing down upon her slim shoulders and forcing the energy out of parted lips in the form of a singular exhale. Impeccable posture lost in an exhausted slouch.
Whatever curious and youthful gaze had batted away concerned glances wholly dissipated. Lost to the inevitable pain she was feeling, like a cruel index finger and thumb pinching onto the woman's gut and slowly twisting. Just to test how long she could cope until the imminent crumble of her mind. Isn't it ironic how you could train a brain to become desensitized to the darkness of death yet you cannot stop the vivid memories which often cloud their mind from eating away at their emotions. Emotions which could kill the strongest of men when left to fester.
And so there she sat, idle and silent. Both hands reaching forward to push aside the piles atop the desk which would likely be forgotten. Only to focus her dull gaze onto a bottle and a box. But such simple items caused the young woman to scrunch her nose up in distaste. Yet she knew well that the two objects were not at all odious. They just sat plainly; knowing that they were present for one purpose. To mute problems until they shrieked at the top of their non-existent lungs where the woman would have to use them again.
So, in one swift movement, a hand lurched forward and wrapped itself around the neck of the bottle. Pulling it in close for a feigned comfort. And with minimal hesitation, she gave in to the noiseless temptation, allowing the bottle's contents to warm her insides. Letting the liquid do its labour.
