...to the dimly lit refuge
Of the sleeping garden.
There I sink down
Upon a marble bench,
Taking deep breaths
As I will my heart
To resume
It's normal rhythm.
Soon I feel the mortification
Welling up
From the depths
Of my soul.
What must he be thinking?
Probably laughing
At my foolishness.
Who had he been,
This man with
The beautiful green eyes?
Into the silence I sigh,
Accepting that my shyness
Had cost me
Yet another opportunity
To let a man
Into my life,
And not just any man
But a man with a bold presence
Who had singled me out
In a room full
Of beautiful women.
I wonder, why?
"Because you were
The most beautiful
Of them all."
The quiet words, spoken
In a voice like torn velvet,
Surprises a squeak from me
And I jump to my feet, turning
To find the object of my musings
Standing tall and silhouetted
Against the distant street light.
"Don't run away," he entreats,
"Don't be frightened.
I mean you no harm."
He takes a step nearer
And I fight the urge
To back away,
My pride had already suffered
Once this night,
It would not again.
"Who are you?" I finally ask.
"Michael," he responds
As he takes another step,
"I asked our host who you were,"
he explained, "Daphne.
It is a lovely name."
I felt the blush again
And could not help
Looking away.
"Can we sit?" he asked,
Motioning to the bench,
And I nodded
Before taking a seat
At the very edge
Of one end.
"Do you think
Anyone would mind
If we took off
These silly masks?"
I couldn't stop the smile
That spread across my face
In response to his own
And I shook my head
As I slipped my fantasy confection
Of feathers and glitter
Over my head.
I watched him do the same
With his velvet mask
And my heart began to pound
As the full of his countenance
Came to light.
Surely he must be
A god, come to earth?
Whatever did he see in me?
I who harbored no illusions
Of attractiveness?
For long moments we stared
At one another,
Our silence pregnant
With questions
And, perhaps, even answers,
Before I forced myself
To look away.
"You really don't know, do you?"
His question was gently asked.
"Know what?"
"How beautiful you are."
Oh, how I wanted to be
What he said I was!
But instead I snorted
My disbelief, in effect
Throwing his words
Back in his face.
"I learned long ago
That such words spoken to me
Were kind ones at best
And outright lies
At worst."
Silence once again claimed
The sleeping garden
And long moments passed
Between us before he rose
To his feet.
My heart sank. He was leaving me.
I had sent him away.
When would I ever learn?
But then
He was standing before me,
One hand out in invitation.
"The music begs a dance.
Would you do me the honor?"
Stunned, not really thinking
Of what I was doing,
I placed my own hand
In his
And allowed him
To guide me to my feet.
The strains of a romantic ballad
Floated out from inside the house
As he pulled me close
And began to lead me
In small circles,
Our feet and bodies
Miraculously in sync
Despite never having danced together
Before.
I feel his breath
Gentle upon my ear
As he hums along softly
With the song.
When the dance is over
I murmur, "I have to go."
He allows me to pull away,
But holds on to my hands,
"Have dinner with me. Soon."
And suddenly, somehow, I know
That this is the man
I have longed a lifetime for,
And any lingering fear
Melts away
As I daringly cup his cheek.
"Yes," I say, "Soon."