Morning, Night and Day

The first sound Tom heard in the morning was the scream in his head. It was like his body was crying out in pain even before he woke up. He opened his eyes. The room was bright. Too bright. In one motion he got to his feet, pulled the curtains and collapsed back onto the bed. He buried himself deep under the duvet and pillows. The pain wasn't as bad in the dark.

He was in his bedroom but he had no idea how he got there from the night before. Or why he was alone. Sharon usually stayed over at the weekends. He remembered talking to her and was sure he met her. They probably had another fight, he thought, but pain wouldn't allow him to think any further.

Although it was pure agony he dragged himself up out of bed and went to the kitchen. The tiles felt cold under his bare feet. He found painkillers and took two with a glass of water. As he closed the glass cabinet he caught his reflection. Lumps of his hair were standing held upright by yesterday's gel and his eyes were raw red. He took another pill for good measure.

A stale smell of garlic hung in the air and Tom knew what it was before he saw it. A half eaten kebab lay on the counter. He took one look at it and threw it in the bin. Then he saw a strange jacket hanging over the back of the chair. What happened had happened last night? He still couldn't remember. He followed the trail of clothes back to the bedroom and riffled through the jeans. Nothing! No change. No notes. Just a card from a cab company with a man's name on the back.

****

Tom shrugged the bouncer off his arm as he made the way up the steep steps out into the night air. At the top he looked around, confused. He had no idea where he was or where he had just come from.

He glanced back down the stairs to the dark dungeon. The blinking lights on the steps made him dizzy, and Tom struggled to keep standing, shifting from side to side.

"Jesus!" he eventually said.

He tried to focus on his wristwatch, gave up and then walked towards the stairs again.

"Can we help you mate?" said one the bouncers blocking Tom's way with his large arm.

"Just getting me girlfriend. Must be in the toilets or something."

"You won't be going back in there. And your girlfriend left ages ago."

Tom tried to talk but couldn't. He opened his mouth but only spit and weird drawn out sounds came out. In his head he knew what he wanted to say but he gave up and walked off.

Blurred faces past him on O'Connell Street as he made broad steps towards the taxi rank. A queue of people lined the concrete island in the centre of the road. Tom joined the queue for a moment but realised he couldn't stand still without holding on to something. He kept walking.

He continued further north side. Five or six taxis passed before one eventually slowed. Tom moved towards the car and the driver's attention suddenly shifted past him. The car sped up again and picked up three girls walking behind him. He cursed the driver under his breath and continued.

By this time he had made it to Phibsborough and the bright lights of fast food. A kebab was bought, but a couple of bites later was pocketed when another taxi approached. This time the driver stopped.

At his house Tom emptied all his sauce-smothered money into the driver's hands. The driver didn't mind. He gave Tom a card and wrote his name on the back, just in case Tom was drunk and feeling generous again.

Tom stumbled to his door and his phone beeped. A message had arrived from Sharon. I never want to see you again. What's her problem, thought Tom? He deleted it and went to work on the kebab.

****

The neon sign should've read Nightingale's, except the 'h' and 'a' weren't lighting. Tom went to enter but was stopped. A large bouncer looked him in the eye.

"You ok mate?" he asked.

"Nothing wrong with me, pal," said Tom, smartly.

"And where do you think you're going?"

Tom told him he wanted to go inside, and was about to add something about the bouncer being brain dead when loud music bellowed up the steps as the black door below opened. A girl walked up the stairs, but stopped halfway for a moment before continuing.

"There you are," said Sharon as she got to the top step.

Tom held out his arms to hug her. She ignored him.

"Do you know him?" said the bouncer.

The girl nodded but didn't look happy about it. Tom put on a cheeky grin. The bouncer ignored him too.

"Well, if yous are going in make sure he doesn't have much more to drink," the bouncer said to Sharon.

Tom was about to say something but she dragged him down the stairs.

Inside the dark club the music blared. Tom couldn't hear what Sharon said but he could see the anger in her eyes as she spoke. He heard the phrases like "always drunk", "always late" and "sick of this."

They found a table away from the dance-floor, which was quiet enough for them to hear each other. Tom didn't know if this was such a good idea.

"We were supposed to meet at eight and then I get a message to cancel. Then you stand me up because you're pissed and - "

Tom thought she was going on too much so he said, "I'm sorry babe."

He reached out to touch her hand and she pulled away.

"There was a leaving do…a guy leaving…and, you know…I had a few and… then…"

"Well it's not on," said Sharon. "What if I did that to you?"

Tom didn't know what the big deal was. He wished she would stand him up sometime. Let her hair down for once and stop moaning all the time.

"But I left to see you."

Sharon folder her arms. "Oh, thanks a lot."

Tom thought he sensed a little humour in her voice and began a smile but stopped himself. He knew it was too soon.

"Why here?" said Sharon.

"A good a place as any." Tom wasn't even sure why he'd selected the place. He hoped to his feet. "A couple of drinks is what we need."

He staggered about the nightclub for a few minutes before he located the bar, the mirrors and darkness confusing him.
As he stood at the bar a pair of hands wrapped around his eyes. "Guess who?" said the voice.

Tom spun around quickly and there she was. Dee from the office. She smiled and Tom returned one too. Her hands were now around his neck and he rested his on her hips. "Hey, fancy seeing you here," he said.

She laughed and stood next to him at the bar, pulling away from his grasp. Two drinks were placed on the counter. He offered her one but she declined.

"Where are the others?" she asked.

Tom shrugged. Dee looked at the extra drink on the counter and Tom pushed it towards her. "I bought it for you," he said and added. "I really like you."

As he said it the DJ roared into the microphone and the last words were lost.

"What?" Dee leaned in to hear. "I really like you," Tom shouted.

She laughed out loud when she heard. Tom's expression was serious for a moment before he began laughing too. If he wasn't with Sharon, he thought but then he turned and saw her standing a few feet away. Her mouth opened slowly. Tom held her stare until her eyes filled with fear and then rage. She turned and left. He was going to take chase, as he always did, but turned back to Dee. She was rocking her head from side to side with the music and looked great. He knew he wasn't going anywhere.

"So who's here with you."

"Nobody!" he said.

There was an awkward silence as Tom tried to search for something to say. The drink was clouding his thoughts. But then Dee said, "I want you to meet some people."

"Cool!"

He looked at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar and straightened his loosely tied tie. He couldn't tell if there were many beer stains on his shirt but he closed his jacket just in case.

Dee was with a table of people. The girls were all young and pretty, but none were as pretty as Dee, thought Tom. He shook their hands and was polite and when he spilled over their drinks he offered to buy more. They just sat him down on the couch before he did anymore damage.

Tom rested his hands on his knees trying to compose himself. He could feel himself slipping. Dee returned a minute later and he looked up. There was a guy standing beside her. He was about the same age as Dee and good looking. Tom didn't like him for that alone.

"This is Dave, my boyfriend," said Dee. "This is Tom," she said to Dave. "Remember I told you about him. The funny guy from work."

Dave didn't care but faked an interest and held out his hand. Tom's head hung to the floor and belched as he reached up to shake it. After the two walked off, Tom helped himself off the couch and went to the bar. He caught his reflection again in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh.

****

There was a good crowd in the Odeon, as there always was on a Friday. Tom got the first round, pushing through the hordes and after five minutes of trying to get the barman's attention, finally got served. When he got back Tony and Rob were looking about at the women.

"Here you go," said Tom handing out the drinks.

"Did you brew these yourself?" asked Rob. Tom put on a fake smile. A few moments later Rob pointed over to a group of girls at the table beside the window. "They're from our office, aren't they?"

Tom didn't need to look, he spotted them the second he walked in. "Yeah!"

"That's Dee, isn't it?" asked Tony.

"Is it?"

"Ah! The new girl," said Rob. "You're very friendly with her, aren't you?"

Rob nudged him and this was enough to get them all laughing.

"Go over," said Tony.

"No!" Tom answered, smiling. "I'm meeting Sharon later," he said trying to sound serious.

"And when has that stopped you before?" said Rob.

He glanced across and quickly caught Dee's eye. She waved over. Tom waved back. His two friends giggled like little girls.

"Has she got a boyfriend?" asked Tony.

"Not sure. She never mentioned one. And anyway, she wouldn't have anything to do with me."

"I know," said Rob. "But it'll be fun to watch you try."

After a couple of more drinks the three got closer to the girls at the table. Eventually, Rob asked if he could join them. Tom deliberately sat down facing Dee, but she startled him when she pulled her chair over beside him.

"So, any plans for tonight?" she asked.

He thought about telling her he was meeting Sharon but quickly changed his mind. "No! Nothing much!"

They chatted away for the next hour making each other laugh. Tom kept telling himself they were only talking. That it didn't mean anything. But after a couple of more drinks he was thinking a little different. He thought back to the office to the little smiles and the little stares. That had to mean something, he was sure of it.

As the time ticked away Tom knew he had to make a decision, and when Dee went to the toilet and Tom took out his phone. He sent a message to Sharon telling her he couldn't meet up. A second later the phone rang. He left the table to answer.

"Hello!"

"What do you mean you can't meet up? I'm on the way."

He knew it was wrong but he couldn't help himself. "There's somebody leaving work and I can't get away. You know how these things are."

There was a pause and then she said, "Well, I'll meet you there."

Tom took the phone away from his ear and shook his head. He should've called earlier.

"OK! I'll meet you in Keogh's in half an hour."

"Why don't you want me to meet you there?"

"Ah! It's full of blokes. And the place is dead anyway."

It sometimes scared him how easily he could think of a lie. And how easily he could tell them. He hung up and went back.

Dee was putting her coat on and saying her good-byes. Tom stood next to her. "Are you going?"

"Yeah! I've to meet some friends."

"Oh!"

Tom was relieved slightly. At least he didn't have to tell lies while explaining why he was leaving.

"I'm going to Nightingale's if yous want to come," said Dee. She looked around the table and then to Tom.

"Maybe!" answered Tom.

"So I'll probably see yous there," she said still looking at Tom. Then she left.

Tom took his seat again. Rob began to smile.

"What?" asked Tom.

"So are you going?"

"Where?"

"Nightingale's, you clown."

"Don't think so."

"You should."

"She asked all of us."

"Yeah, but she was only interested in what you said."
Tom was thinking this and was glad to hear Rob say it. He couldn't help but grin to himself. Tony then placed three fresh pints on the table followed by three whiskeys. Tom's head was spinning and he couldn't shake the thoughts of Dee.

His phone beeped and it was a message from Sharon. He'd forgotten about her. He quickly sent her a message saying he was on the way.

But first he went the bar to buy a round back. While there, out of habit, he ordered three instead of just two. He could drink this, he thought, and get a taxi and Sharon wouldn't know the difference.

She did. His phone rang ten minutes later. He ignored it and finished his drink. As he got up to leave Rob and Tony began shouting abuse and Tom told them to piss off. He picked up Tony's jacket, put it on and left.

There were no taxis outside so he made his way towards the city on foot. Another message arrived. WHERE ARE YOU? He knew by the capitals he was in trouble. As he walked along he forgot where he was supposed to meet her. But one place name was still in his head. He sent a reply. Meet me in Nightingales.

****

Tom stood at the coffee dock looking at his watch, counting the minutes as they slowly passed. Friday's always dragged. There was just an hour to go, so he went to make some coffee to kill a few minutes. He felt like that's all he did today. He wasn't long there when Rob appeared. Tom wasn't sure if he was pleased to see him, he was trying to avoid him all day.

"Didn't see you at lunch," said Rob.

"I'd a couple of things to do."

"Heading across the road later?"

"Nah! Meeting Sharon."

Rob pretended to be shocked. But then put on a smile. "She not going to dump you for having a few drinks, is she?"

Tom looked to the floor shaking his head. He knew Rob's tactics. "I'm not falling for your guilt trips or your reverse psychology. And I'm not going the pub later."

"Ah! It's fine," said Rob. "I knew you'd say no."

Tom didn't answer. Instead he wandered back to his desk, leaving Rob to make coffee alone. He didn't want to go out, really. But he knew if he did Sharon would be moaning and he had to try patch things up. The past few weeks he had been acting like a complete bastard, standing her up or arriving drunk to meet her.

While he was thinking a pair of hands wrapped around his eyes. "Guess who?"

"Hmmm!" said Tom. "From the soft hands I can tell it's somebody that doesn't work too hard."

The hands released and slapped him playful on the back. He turned to see Dee, the pretty girl from accounts. Tom had fixed her computer a couple of times and she seemed lively, which Tom liked. They hit it off immediately. It crossed Tom's mind a couple of times that she might be trying it on with him, but the thoughts rarely lasted long.

"What are you doing up this neck of the woods?" asked Tom.

"I was collecting a report." She held out some pages she was carrying. "And thought I'd pay a visit to my favourite geek."

"Oh! Where is he?"

Dee giggled.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something."

Tom's mind was racing with ideas, and he felt some excitement as she leaned in closer.

"Could you get me a new computer? The one I have is so old."

Tom relaxed back into his chair almost blushing with his embarrassing thought. "I'll see what I can do."

She was walking off when she turned and asked, "You coming over across the road later for one?"

"Don't know."

"Ah come on. I'll get you a drink."

Tom looked to her bright eyes and smiling face. How could he resist. "Yeah! Why not?"

Dee left and a couple of seconds later Tom had Rob on the phone.

"What time you going over later?"

"I knew you couldn't resist."

"What can I say, you twisted me arm."

Biography

Stephen Wallace is a computer consultant working in Dublin. He spends most of his day in a lifeless, sterile corporate environment and he feels the only way to exorcise these demons is to write fiction at night. His stories have been published on various fiction sites and magazines.