glittered

right through my skin, and laughter rose around me in bursts like firecrackers. I sipped

was

rst p

into a world I'd

cating ..... the air,

omething fizzy, then something with a strange blue tint I couldn't pronou

for for

ering who

ice murmured as some

a stranger said, but the voice that steadie

awline .... sharp and defined .... and a silhouette dressed in black.

nking slowly, the mus

let go of me. But for the rest of the night, I kept catching

r cl

er

t t

st tethere

w what drew

't chase me, didn't try to c

like he didn't care who saw him, or

be it

feel something differ

ony railing, a drink in hand, the city lights painting

stand her

answer r

your night t

voice. Low, almost tired.

n't ta

t nee

It's in glances. In shared silences t

shoulders brushed. My skin buzzed. His eyes... too dark

umped into me,

is hand

, it stay

it was t

loneliness I didn

it was

ipped out before

ch for

esit

f

that unfamiliar voice in

lt his face change, b

Let me ask someone

id the dumbe

and whisper

leaving without you tonig

-

faintly of leather a

asculine, and oddly qu

y looke

he marble counter reflected moonlight. All I could fo

ent. Like he knew what he

him bac

tons hit the floor. Fing

hit silk

caught in

mine - toned, warm, unf

't see h

om was

ostly turned a

ed, I was already drunk on

't spea

t m

nc

mething wild

traced his mouth

hen I pulled

nts, it didn't ma

s it wasn

at ol

as someone I ch

else didn

strangers wit

it by morning, b

we'd never

e just

i

e

-

s silent wh

gh floor-length windows, casting go

lin

d h

th

ed..... in t

ent, I di

ared at t

eally d

e

of me reg

ime... no part of

lowly, the silk sheet s

ll asleep

y turne

ath - smooth and sculpted, his skin a rich sh

eyes tr

oddly peaceful about

o much in the day and fin

in his shoul

ttle I could see -

n't look

t want

r stories or the risk

n't abou

as abo

ut of bed, careful

n the floor, and I step

ngled from

toward the door,

I p

d pulled out a folded bill

red do

y on the nightsta

h esca

o

elie

ught he'd asked f

nted to leave wi

fina

lips as I grabbed a pen from the d

ght. Keep the ligh

n't s

n't n

re the sun

his eye

y courag

't loo

I might no