The old rusted and burned out beer sign above the entrance told Love that she had arrived at the right place. As she opened the door and walked in a thick web of stale smoke quickly greeted and engulfed her head, then ripped and curled away from around her hair as she stepped inside. Once the door shut behind her the lighting was so dim it took several moments for Love’s eyes to adjust and see several pathetic sets staring back, and wondering what a beautiful woman was doing in such a dank, dirty and dangerous place. Feeling the stares Love looked back with a sly yet formidable smile to not only reassure them that she knew exactly where she was, but that she was not to be underestimated either. Love’s eyes were drawn to the back corner of the bar to a booth where she saw her surprised guest silently waiting for her to find him.

Shame, a slim and sullen young man had his hair slicked straight back, sat alone with a watered down cocktail and several spiral notebooks full of chaotically scribbled ink laid out in front of him. He put out the last of a cigarette as the two of their eyes met. Shame began stacking the notebooks and putting them on the seat next to him, knowing he now had an unexpected and unwanted guest on the way. Love approached the table and remained standing keeping eye contact with Shame the entire time. “Can I get you a drink?” “No. Thankfully, this won’t take long.” replied Love not wasting her time with formalities. “I know that your brother told you that he and I spoke last week.” Shame slowly raised his eyebrows while remaining silent. “I also know that you would never admit that to me.” A sick and uneven smile broke across Shames’ face “How did you know where to find me?” “You’re not hard to find. I just go to the dirtiest bar with the cheapest drinks, and the saddest faces.” said Love unable to hide her disdain. Shame boastfully lifted his glass up as if to toast “Everyone has their calling cards I guess.” and casually threw the rest of his drink down his throat. “You and all of your lies and deceit are done. It’s all over.” Shame finally understanding there was no delaying the inevitable looked Love in the eyes. “What would humanity be without me? You’ve seen the senseless and unspeakably cruel things people do everyday. They deserve worse if you ask me.” “Thankfully, I didn’t.” responded Love growing more impatient with Shame by the moment. “You know that was never the point, and yet you cling to it in the hopes of convincing people that they deserve self-loathing and sadness.”

Shame sat back in his seat and began shaking his head.“Humanity builds and breeds its own suffering, and deserves every excruciating bit of it.” On hearing this Love silently placed both of her hands on the table and slowly leaned closer to Shame’s face. “You know that dealing with themselves and the likes of you and your family is the whole reason they’re here in the first place. You only have the power that I give you, so cut the shit. Got it?” Shame quickly nodded his head in agreement as all of the color flushed from his face and beads of sweat began to gather on his brow. Love stood up straight without blinking or breaking her fiery gaze. “All of your notebooks are coming with me too.” “What?” cried out Shame like a petulant child. “Your records of everyone’s failures and frustrations are coming with me. Hand them over.” Love said sternly while placing a bag on the table for Shame to load his notebooks into. Shaking his head in disbelief he started to stack the notebooks in the bag as instructed.“This is can’t be happening. How can you do this to me?” cried Shame.“Now you know how humanity feels. Hurry it up, I want to get out of this dump.” said Love while looking around the bar. As Shame placed the last of the books into the bag Love immediately picked it up and swung it over her shoulder, and while turning to leave said “Make sure to tell your parents that I’m on my way to see them too.” Shame, completely stunned, once again silently nodded his head in agreement as Love made her way back across the bar, pushed the door open, and walked out into the daylight.