Waltzing

With each note of the waltz, my heart beats faster.

Thundering in my ears, not the music, but my blood rushing.

Your hand so tight round my waist, corseted, cinched and tied

Reminding me of private times when you hold me.

When you bruise me in your arms, my skin such a canvas for your marks.

Remembering your loving violence, your sweet rape of my body

Burning from the most recent assault, begging you for more

The tensing of your fingers bring me back to the present, and we whirl again.

I try to look around, to make sense of the colors and laughter

A gentle tug on my wrist, and my eyes are yours.

My knees grow weak, and you are my only focus

The spinning room falls away, my feet loose touch with the ground

Warm and welcoming, imploring me to lose myself

You look into me, past the layers on the outside, into my soul

We both have a shine of pain, a need for relief and solace

In time with the melody, guards are dropped in the comfort of each other’s arms

Pulling me closer, as close as the dance allows, you breathe deeply

“You are sweet to love, Miss,” you whisper, flooding me with pain and joy

Our dance so short, stolen moments not allowed, not ours to give.