Sodden

I walk to the train station, buy a bottle of wine on the way and head in the direction of an old friend. My mind is plagued with a million thoughts - my betrayal, and consequent admission; his lips; her lips; those teary eyes. I open the screw top of my cheap bottle and take a large gulp as I stride toward the station entrance, sun beating down on my back. I tap my oyster on the reader and walk through the barrier, descend the escalator quickly in an attempt to arrive at her house whilst she's still in. Perhaps I should have called. My top teeth clamp down on my full bottom lip, fingers clutch the glass bottle possessively. Two stops and a short walk later, I am standing at her front door, waiting for her to greet me. She smiles, my arrival a welcome surprise, eyes wince at the harsh mid-day sun.
"Come in," she says groggily, standing in her boyfriend's boxers and a white vest.
I do as she says, and she pulls me into a warm embrace as soon as my foot is in the door. Arms still holding me tightly, she places a kiss on the top of my head; I feel the warmth of her mouth through my hair, and tears begin to fill my weary eyes.
"I've ruined everything, Em. I don't know what to -"
"Shh..." she interjects, and plays with my hair comfortingly whilst pushing the front door shut with her free hand.
We sit in her squalor of a living room, amongst empty beer bottles, dirty dishes and classic novels. She passes me a cigarette and as we light up, I begin to tell my story, her emerald eyes focused intensely on my tear-sodden face.