I lay on face down the cracked tile, near the toilet. Its base was ringed with grime, and I could see what looked like a tuft of pubic hair wadded in the corner. My right eye was swollen shut, but the left one seemed unharmed. I wondered how long before someone found me.
The hotel had seemed okay online. The reviews were mediocre, but it was cheap and I figured I’d only be there to sleep. Nassau was full of better things to spend my money on, I’d told myself. I’d changed and walked across the land bridge to the Atlantis, admiring the motor sailors in their slips.
The woman at the bar had introduced herself as Tanya. She’d had an exotic accent and worn a lot of makeup.
“What do you do around here for fun?” I’d asked.
“You buy drink for me and we talk about it,” she’d said.
For fun they roll tourists! Wonder if he’ll make it home to write his own review? Full of tension and gritty realism.
This is why I stay at the Atlantis. If you’re gonna get ‘rolled’, at least do it in style ;)
– Lisa
Dear J Hardy,
Perhaps he shoud’ve checked a few more sources before booking a room at the roach motel. Your descriptions made me gag. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Vivid and spot on descriptions – lobe that opening paragraph particularly, you have us right there at the sharp end with him.
Grim, gritty, but a perfectly formed short, opening with the end and ending with the beginning. Love it
A friend of mine has ALS. He was home alone and trying to use the toilet when he lost his balance and fell. He was wedged between the toilet and the wall but was fortunately able to reach his medical alert device to call his wife, who was out doing errands. I know it’s not the point you were speaking to, but it was the first thing that popped into my head whilst reading your wee tale.
Superb story telling on display. Descriptions were crisp and spot on.