Aspects of Elegance

Mike rolled out of his bed. His sheets were cum stained. Old, used up dirty magazines were strewn about his rooming house room. There was a half finished bottle of whiskey on his night stand.

"Someday I'll get out of here," he said to himself.

He grabbed his towel and shaving kit and walked down to the bathroom he shared with five other people.

A young woman he had never seen was in the bathroom with the door open. She was sitting on the toilet trying to find a vein in her worn out, bloody arm. A brown leather belt was tightly wrapped around her bicep. A spoon and and two tiny empty baggies were on the floor.

"You almost done in there?"

"I can't hit. I can't get a vein," she cried.

"Let me help you there."

Mike walked in the bathroom and she gave him her syringe. He took her arm. His eyes adjusted.


"Oh, that one won't do," he wiped away her blood with his bare hand. "Let me see your other arm."

She gave him her other arm.

"Take off that belt," she did as he asked and gave him the belt.

Mike tied the belt tightly around her other arm. He got a vein to bulge that had no bruising or scare tissue around it. He inserted the needle into the vein and drew back blood.

"I locked your shot. Want it?"

She bit her lip and nodded in agreement. Mike pushed down on the plunger.

Her head tipped back in relief.

Mike noted to himself that this girl could have been no more than 19 or 20 years old.

He pulled the needle out and plugged the hole in her arm where the shot went in.

"How'd you know how to do that?"

After the blood stopped Mike turned on the sink and washed his hands. He turned to her and showed her his ancient scars.

"I've been around kid."

"Guy...the hurley jastend...crawlin'...the way you did tha...

"Just enjoy your shot. You don't get good one's after a while."

He put shaving cream on his hands and worked it into a lather. He slapped the shaving cream on his face.

The girl nearly fell off the toilet, but instinctively found her balance.

"You're a pretty righteous old man," she said; trying to keep her eyes open.

"You're welcome. If that was a thank you."

Mike shaved his face.

"You got an ol' lady?"

"No, I live here. What do you think?"

"I could use an ol' man?"

"For what?"

"I want to fuck."

Mike dried his face off.

"You telling me you want to fuck?"

"Do I have to ask twice?"