Reading: "Aesthetics of the Pandemonium" from novel The Graft of Shadows (A.Glass 2019)

 

Nyxi Monica looks over her tattooed hands, the symbols on her left and right knuckles, the recent tattoo, which she paid fifty dollars to have it done of the Hebrew letter Aleph. Also, earlier tattoos of the Greek PI and Omega symbols with other various patterns. She studies some of her scars, namely on her right forearm and the crisscross of lines over her visible knuckles. Wearing a baseball cap, Monica has allowed her mid length brown hair to fall to her shoulders. She looks at the sunset West of the city, as it descends over a larger park, one of her favorite places to sit, drink and watch the sun setting. She has never been bothered by anyone, as it mostly runners and bike riders that use the large outstretched path which encircles the barren interior of the park. Monica has always been alone, not by choice – only as a necessity, to survive. The past she reconciled in her way, living from day to day. She lifts, from the right side where she is sitting, a can of beer, sipping, to the left of her is three other cans and her cellphone. A sufficient amount for her to get slightly drunk. Lifting out of her right side pocket are her keys, with a sharpened point that is affixed to a horizontal grip. Her impromptu weapon if an unwanted asshole decides to be stupid, infringing on her decision to sit and be alone. But, that has never happened, for now Monica smiles as she places the keys back into her pocket and proceeds to watch the sunset. She views the shards of reddish light piercing through the clouds as the sun begins to descend West below the horizon. Placing the beer down she reaches over and lifts up her phone, checking her emails. She briefly views a recent news report.

“Controversy has gripped the legal world, as one of the biggest and most profitable legal firms Kinsley, Samson and Sanders is embroiled in a scandal which included one of their newly appointed partners. Allegations have arisen that she was involving in a late night cocaine taking and sex with a male, who later that evening overdosed and died whilst injecting heroin. She has claimed the pressures of working for a high powered legal firm has contributing to her drug habit, also stating that profits are down of the famous firm which championed the same sex marriage and equality bill in 2016. Also known for its push into inclusion and equality programs, according to reports surrounding the case, Kinsley, Samson and Sanders maybe dramatically cutting student intake this year, including the amount of female candidates...”

Placing the phone down into the bench next to her, she lifts up another beer.

“I got six hundred bucks in my bank account...” Opening up the beer, she lifts it to her lips and takes a sip. Enjoying its aroma and savoring the bitter taste. “...It's their fucking mess coming undone. I just don't care.”

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Reading: Reading:  "Aesthetics of the Pandemonium" from the novel The Graft of Shadows (A.Glass 2019)