Everyone loves me.

Here I am, a kind server at a local diner that everyone frequents in a small little town. Dressed in a dress and apron, I smile and offer you the best hospitality there is.

Been coming for a while? I know what you like and dislike. I’ll give you what you want before you know what that is. I’ll joke with you and give you such a pleasant time here. Such a sweet, kind girl they say. And it’s true! I care and love to help.

That is, unless…

Unless you’re that person.

That person who is rude, cruel, and unkind. The person who comes in alone time after time because even your friends don’t want to be friends. The son you never see is on the phone as you scream at him. You reek of alcohol and lies, and assume everyone wants to know everything about you.

You never leave when we close. Dawdling and defiant, you make a giant mess and leave whenever you feel like it.

So here I am, done with it.

I lean in, after telling you several times that it was time to leave, and I say to you…

“An entire life lived and here you are,” I breathed to them, “an aging alcoholic who’s alone because you’ve pushed everyone away with how horrible you are. Any tiny amount of control you have you grasp on to tightly because your life is nothing but a pathetic spiral. But no one cares, do they?”

I stand back up and remind you it’s time to go. I walk back into the kitchen and take a sip of my coffee, looking through the door window as you wipe away the tears and leave.

I smile, relishing in your pain.

Sure, you can tell somebody. But who will ever believe such a horrible person over me? Not that it matters, because you’ll forget all this and we’ll do it all over again soon enough.

Everyone loves me. And I will make sure I will bury you sweetly.