His Dance Into Her Past

He

Came in

Ready to dance.

He couldn't have known

Regret was around the corner.

There she was sat by herself.

Ring-less fingers wrapped around a cold glass

No man in sight, no girls around either.

How could this beautiful vision be all by herself?

No way the night was gonna end without a dance.

And so, he dusted off his spotless shoulders and got up

Took a big swig of the beer he'd been sipping all night

Then walked across the room to address her with a charming, confident grin.

Pardon me, but would you dance with me for the next hopefully beautiful song?

A look of pure excitement dressed her face and she nodded her head yes, please.

He led her toward the center of the room and placed a hand upon her waist.

As they moved in perfect harmony, he felt as though the whole world had disappeared around them.

And then, "I'm so happy to be with you tonight, this night has been full of such uggos"

She stopped mid-step, her body going rigid as the music continued to play a song now ruined.

The warmth in her eyes died out like a candle struck by a sudden, cold breeze.

With a sharp, silent glare, she lowered his palms off her hips and stepped back.

He stammered a clumsy apology, reaching out to grasp at the fading, golden moment.

"I didn't mean it that way," he pleaded, as she shook her head.

Without a word, she turned away, leaving him in the cold spotlight.

He felt exposed as he stood paralyzed in the lonely center,

Watching her walk toward the exit with a heavy heart.

Why did he speak like he was with them?

Locker room talk that would always go unchecked.

He cursed the habit of his tongue,

And the regret it's forever brought.

Because even now he believes,

That was his soulmate.

And that day,

He lost

Her.

*

She

Sat there

Waiting for courage.

She felt small tonight.

The old mirrors always lied.

Inside, she was still that kid.

The girl they called the ugly one.

Tonight was a challenge she set for herself.

She wondered if anyone would even look her way.

Her fingers tapped nervously against the cold, condensation covered glass.

The bar was crowded, yet she felt completely invisible and safe.

But then a shadow moved toward her with very slow, steady steps.

He smiled at her and she felt a sudden, terrifying spark of hope.

When he asked her to dance, her heart soared higher than it ever had.

She forgot the years of being the girl no one ever wanted to look at.

For those few minutes on the floor, she finally felt beautiful, seen, and truly, deeply alive.

The music felt like a soft hug wrapping around them, shielding her from every old, painful insecurity.

And then, "I'm so happy to be with you tonight, this night has been full of such uggos"

That sole sentence struck her like a physical blow, dragging every buried, childhood demon back to light.

The music didn't feel like a hug anymore; it sounded like the laughter of old schoolmates.

And he'd become the embodiment of every Peter, Alan, and James who squawked at her.

Her skin itched where his hands touched her waist, like his palms were dirt.

She pulled away and left him there, a hollow boy in men's clothing.

Her vision blurred from the salt of restrained old, familiar, stinging tears.

She didn't want his apologies or his desperate, lying, panicked excuses.

All she wanted was to be back home again, safe.

The cool night air swallowed her as she exited,

The breeze brought with it, a sudden calm.

Every new breath was a needed reminder.

She was no longer defenseless, afraid

Pain was left alone tonight

And she marches on

Head held high

Away from

Him

*Author's Note: This used up a lot of brain power and I'm so happy with how it turned out. I challenged myself to push myself and tell a full narrative with this 1-18 word sentence climb and then 18-1 return structure. I'm so happy I was able to achieve it. I'm so so proud of myself and this story, and I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. xoxo.