A Love From The Past…

The first time I’ve seen you in six years…
At my friend’s cousin’s Ball.

I’m grown up now, older and more mature than I was when we loved each other…
Young and wild in our teens.
People tried back then to control our feelings for one another, just each other…

I think all these wonderful things
While I stare at you amazedly…
Someone whispers in your ear
And you turn and look at me.
My heart races as we lock eyes,
Emotions pouring from us both,
So many words in just a gaze
Before you put your glass down
And start to walk to me
The same time
That I start to walk to you.

Men shoot you angry looks
As you smile and I return it,
Men who were rejected moments
Before you saw me.
Instead of ignoring you return the look, pleasing me…

Though time has passed, you still seem to feel that magnetic pull I have on you, like you have on me.
We cant get the words out.
There’s so much to say, so little time.

The Ball ends in less than an hour.
Before I can ask how you are the music changes to something beautiful, slow…
Amazing like the expression on your face.
Without words you take my hand,
And walk me to the dance floor.

The dancers back away to give us room, as if this were our wedding day.
My friends have heard about the love of my life before fate separated us,
Before destiny brought us back together.

Your steady breathing soothes me,
Like it did so long ago…
Your fingers weaving through my hair.
We may as well not have seen each other in a week instead of six years,
For our feelings haven’t changed.

It feels like there are no eyes upon us as we slow dance, our own silent reunion.

The song ends.

The applause sounds faded as we gaze at each other, your face intent…

Before my arm is grabbed and my best friend shouts I was brilliant,
Whisking me into the crowd to get a drink and gossip.
But now that I’ve seen you, I don’t want to be with her when I can be with you.

I pull away, looking around…
Just in time to see you exit the hall.
Moments later your car pulls off…
You’re gone again.

Suddenly I feel need that drink.
I feel like I’m going to faint.
How long until I see you again?
Another six years? Never?
Were you even here to begin with?
Was I merely dancing with a stranger,
Suffering a moonlight mirage?

I don’t want to know.

I don’t need to know.

I just want to go home.

I bid everyone goodbye and hurry out, into my car.
I’m not far from home.
I’m too dazed to glance around before I park.
I grab my handbag, get out the car, slam the door and storm towards my house-
Before I shriek out loud.

Because I see you waiting for me,
Leaning against your car with a smirk.
You tell me I haven’t changed, that you knew if you left, I would have also.
I tell you you’re still smug when it comes to me and you, but you wave that off.
Whatever you’re about say
Doesn’t leave your mouth,
Because mine is on yours.
A five star kiss back then, it’s a
Twelve star six years later.

That hazy feeling has come over me, like before, but unlike and like before, you’re here to steady me.
You take my keys and slide one in the lock- the right key the first try.

I can feel my heart racing.
As we step indoors I realise
We couldn’t catch up during
Our limited time at the Ball-
Which is the reason why you left.

We couldn’t choose what to do
Surrounded by people,
But now, in my house,
We’re alone…

Completely alone.

Makala Thomas