Anonymous Lonely Club✔️

01

I dunk my head under the ice cold streams of water one more time before turning off the shower.

I take a deep breath and wrap my towel around my waist.

The mirror above the sink is still in pieces around the room.

I step over the glass and out of the bathroom to lay on my bed again.

I rest on my back until my phone buzzes on my nightstand.

I roll over to see the caller ID.

Nothing I recognize.

I wait a few minutes before listening to the voice mail.

I click play.

"Hey uh haven't heard from you... Did you still want to get drinks or maybe not? Sorry if I said anything weird I-"

I block the number.

And I delete the message.

I slide on some clean clothes and swipe my keys off the counter.

I scratch at my peeling nicotine patch on my shoulder as I bounce down the stairs.

"You going out?" I hear once I reach the bottom of the stairs.

I see one of my nosy neighbors carrying two armfuls of groceries.

"Work." I reply.

"Well... be careful with the rain." He says then stomps up the twisted staircase.

I shake my head and step out into the warm, misty weather.

I walk down my street and feel my sneakers slowly get soggy with every shallow puddle I walk through.

While I wait at the light I spot a flyer over-stapled to the nearest telephone pole.

I squint and see the hideous neon orange color flyer on the next few down the road as well.

I pinch the paper with my index finger and thumb then wiggle it out of the staples.

The ink is slightly bleeding.

Anonymous Lonely Club
Free!
Meetings at 9:00pm
Every Saturday
Baptist Church on Collins Street
(Not religious- just using the space)
Ran by a licensed therapist

I check my phone and see it's almost 10.

"Maybe." I mutter to myself.

I fold the flyer up and tuck it into my back pocket.

Next thing I know I'm in front of the old church.

I tug on the tarnished handles and walk into the empty church.

I pass the pews and head to the room that's leaking light into the dim space.

I lightly push the door and the eerie creek turns everyone's heads to me.

"Uh." I say.

There is a slight pause before a man holding a clipboard stands and scurries over to me.

"Come in! Come in! Have a seat. You're still on time." He says.

I take a seat on one of the cold, metal folding chairs.

"And here you go," he says handing me a name tag that's colored dark blue, "I'm Richie but feel free to stay anonymous. For easier conversations here's a place holder. We use colors here."

I squish the adhesive sticker to my chest.

I look up and sigh.

"So, oh just jump in if you'd like. Green you were saying about how food seems like an outlet for you." Richie says.