ldn't

dozens of pictures pinned with surgical pr

The same eyes that gave just e

l resem

e gut punch of knowledge seemed hot

cades different pl

what

nti

cked. My mo

icked, or had I j

t all, framed yet so severely da

e's arms were tightly wrapped around

her identity was ripped a

closer, my h

oughly gouged with the

it, sensing the hate e

vo

war

be

m seeming painfully cold

't just

s a p

eti

n line for r

ast wild

r behind me op

ned s

e are beauti

my s

ress hanging in the fro

it

r

tuck to me lik

ed too

, I didn't recognize

Kate Monr

A reflection fashioned from

ulled the

mo

horrible drive that had kept me go

own dead eyes.

em to se

m choke

surpri

his voice low and unreadab

ean of flashing ligh

nd me as we stepped on

waist, his body heat burning

I were the sun and stars,

a simil

It's a phony

as and shared greetings, two beautiful frau

ept

d fit precisely in

he moved his thumb in

n a sha

ing her pearl necklace and saying

gh the crowd li

a

ar

dat

ca V

ond skin eyes like broken glass, sparkling

d before u

" she

ecting brok

wisted. Tigh

is fingers lightly pressing

ed to mine slow, o

rer, her perfu

" she whispered in my ear, her

rin

nd crisp

on my toes, and whispered, "Smile, d

as well, bending into a real look

showing the first crac

e mumbled, tilting

to wipe off b

moved from my waist to the back of

rd was

ger just a fi

chestr

he dance floor with

ght. His steps

ble, a whirlwind of crimson an

letting my anger

your revenge o

s burned into

id, his voice sc

y mistake I wan

e me feel emp

hooked

ance

hbulbs h

e performanc

waist to the curve of my b

on mine, a move that was

less.

he start of this charade,

the man, "you'll nev

ed from acro

of perfect beauty.

. Fu

lid through the crowd

and scribbled a messa

red. Phase o

after send

h and nas

as only ju

r rolled low ov

ed my bare shoulder as

orm is

ng to do wit

I peeled off the red

bathroom, needing a co

fr

single line read, "He lies beau

eat agains

d away

behind m

oards

saw my bedroo

l

le

it