Member-only story
What I Should Have Said
Instead of worrying about how I look
**Names have been changed to protect identity**
Jolie looked across the room at me; her eyes burning with pain.
She was sitting on the floor of my tiny cruise ship cabin with a glass of red wine in one hand, and her head in the other.
Our days were spent as entertainers, jesters that dished out joy and laughter to those who had paid to sail.
If you were under 10 years old and sailing aboard our ship, we were professionals at making you laugh.
The guests knew from us for our hilarity, but all Jolie knew was despair.
Every night I’d look across the stage and see her pain masked behind choreographed revelry.
When we were finished with our work, we’d wipe off the sweat and return to the floor of my tiny ship cabin.
The Cabin Floor
This 2x2 metre floor-space was the conduit to all manner of adventures both happy and sad.
From wild parties to wild sex; this floor was caked in memories.
It was now playing host to two friends, one in turmoil and one desperate to appear more empathetic.
