Page 26 of Drink Up, Darling
It had begun to rain outside again, and the wind battered at the large panes to the right of the room, branches scraping and tapping. They let him continue, no interruption necessary.
“In my twenties, I met a man. It was the early seventies, what we both wanted wasn’t just frowned upon, it had not long even been made legal. I’d grown up knowing our very existence was a criminal offence. But we both wanted the same things. Sex, and friendship. Nothing more, nothing less. We managed to keep our engagements secret for years. We made it work, understood it could end at any point, but we were happy. We satisfied each other’s needs perfectly. We didn’t require anything else from each other. I thought I was the luckiest man on earth—to have not only found a truly incredible partner, but also a friend who understood I could not and did not experience any sort of romantic attraction. He didn’t expect anything from me.” Godwin’s gaze grew distant with the memories. “Then my brother caught us. I never did get on with my eldest brother, but I will never forgive him for what he did. Even though what was to come was entirely my fault.”
Still, neither Dariel nor Athens spoke. Phantom hands tightened their grip on Dariel’s lungs.
“He told my whole family, even exaggerated and twisted what he’d witnessed to make me out as a true monster. I was immediately given a choice: leave him and repent—to force him away and never see him again, or be cut from the family entirely. My money and name would be stripped from me. As you can see,” he gestured around to the room, “Godwin Peters chose greed.”
Godwin closed his eyes and sighed. “So here I am. I chose this, this was the life God planned for me, and here I sit confessing to two strangers after eating my favourite meal as if it is not something that kept me up at night for decades. As if I am still loved by everyone related to me. I know now I am perhaps not broken, and you gents have helped solidify that to me, but it is too late for me to do anything about it.”
“It’s not your fault,” Dariel asserted.
“Oh, but it is, my dear. I chose this house and my own family name over the life I truly wanted for myself. I chose the worst option, and my family still won’t even talk to me, and thus, this is my penance.”
“A life of solitude? A life of staying away from everyone aspunishment? You could have gone back to him! What was his name? I’m sure I could find him, I…” Athens’ sudden burst of seriousness shook the room. He’d stood up, hands firmly on the table.
Godwin cut him off with a raised hand, eyes glistening in pain. “I believe he found himself a partner not long after I left him. We were never romantic, but I believe he found his romance and is in fact very happy now.”
“Yet you are not,” Athens stated, firmness still present, though he did not sound like he was shoutingatGodwin that time, more shoutingforhim. He sat back down.
Godwin didn’t respond.
‘He’s more than not happy. His whole life has been modelled around one mistake.’
‘I’m not quite sure I know what to do.’
‘I think we need to help him.’
And I think he asked us here for that exact reason.Dariel couldn’t shake the feeling. He chose to trust his gut.
“Godwin. Why did you invite us here?” he asked, stoically.
“Well I…” Godwin swallowed, adjusting his glasses. “I told you, for designing my…”
“Why are we really here, Godwin?” Dariel tried again.
Godwin abruptly stood and clattered back over to his alcohol cabinet.
Athens scowled in confusion then turned to face their host, Dariel doing the same.
Godwin rummaged for a while, bending down on his knees that subsequently cracked as he did so. He reached to what appeared to be another door inside the cabinet, hinges squeaking, and a small light beaming. A mini fridge perhaps? They watched him sigh and drop his head into his hands, muttering to himself.
‘What is he doing?’
‘I’m concerned.’
Dariel raised to stand. “Everything okay, Godwin? Mr Peters?”
The human did not respond.
“Honestly, I’m a bit full of wine, we don’t have to…” Athens started, standing up and beginning to wander over to Godwin.
Then the older man raised slowly, holding up a dark bottle.
The sinking sensation began then, though it took Dariel a further few seconds before his brain caught up.
Godwin’s eyes were red as he stepped back towards the table, the unlabelled bottle grasped firmly in his hands. He took in adeep breath, and neither Dariel nor Athens moved; Dariel noting Athens’ tense body.
Godwin nodded to himself before he spoke, twisting the bottle cap.
