‘da fuck you looking at?
Yeah, you.
You sneakin’ a cigarette? No problem. Got a three-pack-a-day habit myself. Can I get one? Best thing with a cup of coffee and a donut.
Tanks. What? Menthol? Are you kidding me? Better than nothing. Unfiltered Marlboro’s. That’s a cigarette.
Just doing my job.
Shit no. That’s Cupid – he was working all day yesterday – at his mom’s right now sleeping it off – I’m his cousin Prossimo. Shit, this coffee’s horrible – they should have a decent coffee chain – you know, a national kinda thing – make you the same stuff no matter what city you’re in. They could make a fortune.
Damn it. This donut’s pretty good though.
You work in the building?
That’s good. People should have a job they like. I had to go into the family business, no choice for me.
The family business – love. My aunt started the company. A job’s a job. I do the day after stuff.
No. No bows and arrows for me. My little friend here is a dart gun. Yeah, I know; looks wicked. My cousin always wants to borrow it, but his mom is into the traditional stuff – he even has to wear a freaking toga. Me, I just let it all hang out.
Shit, this coffee is horrible. Excuse me – think I see my mark. Yeah, that’s her. Excuse me. Got her.
No, the dart is painless, but man, she’s gonna feel it. She’s gonna realize dat it ain’t no good no more. My cousin, he’s the one who starts things, ya know, but I’m the one who ends them.
It’s not cruel. It’s love. You guys don’t get it, really – you fall for someone, and those are the best days – Cupid makes sure of that. My little friend and me jolt you all out of it so you can do it again. Maybe. It’s just a job.
Listen, I don’t make the rules. Been this way forever.
Nice talking to you too.
John took in the last hit of Benson and Hedges and closed the window. Looking down on the ledge he saw nothing except a few donut crumbs the pigeons could fight over. He sat at the desk and heard a knock.
Joan came in, closed the door.
You have a minute?
No. I don’t want to sit down. I just need to tell you something.
It’s over.
About:
Rina Palumbo (she/her) is working on a novel and two nonfiction long-form writing projects alongside short fiction, creative nonfiction, and prose poetry. Her work appears in The Hopkins Review, Ghost Parachute, Milk Candy, Bending Genres, Identity Theory, Stonecoast Review, et al. https://rinapalumbowriter.com
Twitter/X @Rina_Palumbo
