“I need to confess something.. I did it. Now, can you pass the wine?”

A good portion of the air left the room and an unknown toxin suddenly began to seep from the outside in. All eyes darted in one direction. The wine was passed intrinsically without hesitation.

“What? It’s true. You’re surprised?”

“Barbara, what do you mean you did it?”

“What do you think I mean? What else could I mean? Thank you!” exclaimed Barbara now gripping the Chardonnay.

Tina’s arm didn’t move an inch once the bottle left her hands. They all sat and watched as Barbara poured herself another full glass. All of their eyes glared at her face or watched the yellow liquid slowly fill the shape of Barbara’s glass.

“Now by it—“

“Uh huh.”

Barbara swiftly brought the glass to her lips and took what could only be described as a gulp. They continued to stare dumbstruck as some wine dribbled out of the corner of her lips. Eyes wide, she wiped the spillage across her cheek and unleashed a historically wide smile that brought a disturbed chill to the bones and connecting sinews of her gathered peers.

“I did it.”

Another gulp.

“I fucking did it! Okay!?”

Her relief quickly turned to rage and she raised the glass as if she could hide behind it. They could see how she did it. She didn’t have to tell them, but she did. This was their friend. This was a night to discuss the latest Lisa Gardner. This was a night to drink and this was a night to gossip for sure. This was now something else, something much more sinister.

“Barbara…”

Her face reddened and the pulsating vein in her forehead thickened as her lips pursed and tears began to form. She knew what she did. They knew it too. Her husband was gone and now it was her turn. This was going to be the start of a new life for Barbara, a long, lonely life where the only remaining moment that would mean something was its end.