his heart

was

black as night,

cold as ice,

hard as stone.

somehow she managed to pierce it.

the darkness,

she illuminated.

the ice.

she melted.

the stone.

she smashed.

all with a smile on her face,

like a star so bright,

like a fire so warm,

like a bear so soft,

she shot the first arrow.

bull's eye.

straight to the darkness of his heart.

Her smiles were arrows through the darkness,

Flaming arrows burning bright embers in the dark,

Shining bright,

while in flight,

to its target,

to

my

heart.

making me believe there’s hope,

there’s light,

there’s life

and

there’s love.

Her smiles

were arrows

through

the

darkness,

through

my

darkness.

21.6.2020

her smiles were arrows through the darkness

i felt the hit on my heart

and i knew then

wherever she went

i'd follow

The crowd was wild, and cheers could be heard from all directions as he watched the girl on stage, she goes by the name Olive and she was beautiful, with bright strawberry hair and cherry lips that painted the brightest smile for all to see. There were many a woman Lan had found attractive, but none had been like her; perhaps it was her mystery, the mask she wore that hid her truth, or maybe it was her blue eyes that pierced through the darkness, Lan thought they were deadly like an assassin’s arrows.

She was deadly in her precision but graceful in her twirls as she danced and sang on the stage, capturing the attention of everyone below, they were all so wrapped in her performance that it wouldn’t be too difficult a task for an assassin to slip in and slit a few throats.

Thankfully there were guards stationed at the entrance, so all clubbers were checked before they were allowed in. Lan thought about the guards at the entrance, they were clearly former rugby players with how rough they’d been with their inspections, but their horrible treatment and the long wait had been worth it.

Lan was truly having a good time as he dreamed of conversing with Olive, learning all her secrets and what she valued most. Perhaps Lan was just a little drunk for hoping to form a relationship with a show girl but right now he didn’t care that she was a show girl or that she had a blade under her sleeve, tonight wasn’t a normal night.

Her blade briefly glistened through the edge of her sleeve and she thought it went unnoticed by the audience, for their eyes were on her legs and not her hands, all she had to do was dance and stay in character for a while more. It had been silly for the guards to not check their performers, to assume them weak just because they were girls had been their mistake and tonight Olive will show them so, for her plan will bring this club to bankruptcy.

All the show girls of Marlins had no free will, they had been bought, either at the black market or sold by their own blood and Olive had had enough, her last performance was drawing near and blood was on the tip of her tongue. The minutes went by with her dancing and prancing, staying in character until the very last second had past and with a quick curtsy, she left the stage.

Lan watched her disappear through the curtains before walking towards the backstage, one of his friends worked at this club so getting access was as simple as a small bribe of food. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. A few seconds passed by, movement was heard and then the door swung open to reveal a smiling Olive, still in her dance costume and mask.

“How can I help you?”

Lan blinked not expecting her to actually open the door but quickly recovered, “I wanted to compliment you on such a beautiful performance”

Olive blinked, “Oh… well thank you for the kind words” she had assumed he was a new member of staff, not a customer

“I know you just got off the stage, but I was wondering if I could buy you a drink?”

“…Thank you for the offer… but I’m sorry sir, I’m very tired, like you said I just finished my performance” Olive said with a timid smile

“ah I see… well can I just ask you one question?”

Olive was playing with her hands behind her back, eager to get him to leave when she said “Of course, what is it?”

Her response caused Lan’s smile to broaden wickedly “Miss Olive, why do you have a knife hidden under your sleeve?”

Olive’s eyes widened in shock and she paused for only a second before grabbing his shirt and pulling him inside her dressing room with her blade to his throat. “Who are you?”

Lan was pressed against the wall, paralysed, he hadn’t been thinking when he uttered those words

“I said, who are you?” Olive repeated, her blade’s tip nipping his skin

“N-no one! Just a customer who happened to notice your blade when the light shone on it”

“Did anyone else notice?”

“Not that I know of, I don’t think anyone else was watching you as intently as I was”

“And why were you watching me so intently”

By this point his palms were full of sweat and he could feel the knife pressing into his flesh, “I… I thought you were beautiful…”

His response surprised Olive and she nearly dropped her blade, she didn’t know what to make of this, there were no lies in his eyes. She didn’t know if it was wise to let his go, but the clock was ticking so she took the risk. “I want you to leave and forget any of this happened, you didn’t see my knife and never confronted me on it, understand?”

Lan stared at her, he knows he should listen to her and leave… but for some reason, he doesn’t want to “What if I could help you?”

At his words, Olive released his shirt and placed the knife away, she was dumbfounded by this man, he wanted to help after she had threatened him “You. Want. To. help?”

“Yes, I know, you think I’m crazy but I just, I don’t believe you’re a bad person”

“Your crazy!” Olive said taking a few steps back, more worried of this mad man than the chances of him ruining her plans

“I know, now will you answer my original question?”

Olive thought on this, well what does she have to lose, she only has so much time and he already knows she has a blade on her “Fine, but just remember, if you betray me, I’m not afraid to use this” She said showing him her blade. Lan only nodded in response, so she continued “All the show girls of this club are here against their will and I plan on freeing them by showing the public proof that this club has been participating in human trafficking”

“How will you do that?”

“The owner of Marlins, I will take his life and leave the ‘receipts’ next to his body” Olive said without pause.

Lan stared at her “Is murder really necessary?”

Olive’s eyes became stone cold as she forced out the word “Yes.” The things he had done to them were unforgivable, that man doesn’t deserve to live.

True to her words, Marlins closed down the next day and everyone knew it was because of it’s illegal deeds but, only a few knew of the blood red room on the top floor. The police kept it quiet because the culprit had long fled and left no trace.

Battered and helpless the woman walks alone.

The heaviness of the ordeal weighs her down each day more and more. No one asks how did it come to be.

Passersby look through her; not wanting to recognize their power to step in.

She keeps her head down, knowing she makes others uncomfortable.

She keeps her distance so as not to encounter another because the glares stab her deeply.

She wants to yell: I’m a person inside and although battered, I feel your stares. But she never does. She works tirelessly to keep her dignity in tact.

Then, unexpectedly someone passes on a smile and says: I hope this helps.

Hesitatingly, the woman looks up and smiles back. And although dirty with worn clothes, you can see it. You can feel her strength within. It gets her by.

And as she smiles, her cheekbones rise.

Her smile seems to eliminate the pain in her eyes. For an instant, the dirt which colored her skin became invisible.

That moment when smiles were exchanged, her smiles were like arrows shooting through the darkness. The woman realized that her dignity would get her through this ordeal and even though she had little to give to others, from this day forward, she realized she could share her powerful smile.

My heart never found rest,

only the truth of blue being a verb.

As seen,

confessed,

at the stairwell,

all those streaming faces including thier prompting question,

"How do you spell success?"

I'd nod in response.

Volunteer wholeness within complete silence.

No,

my heart never found rest.

Only the proverbial return of grace,

felt most brightly in a smile.

Angels peaking out from behind the curtain,

stringing stars like pearls.

Like lovers,

side by side,

hand in hand,

be it dancing in the hallway

or

striding along the shore,

giving the soul nowhere to hide.

Asking, "What fall?"

Her smiles were like arrows through the darkness.

She shoots blind,

and often misses her mark.

Frustration grows with every kind smile,

yet every once in a while, she will hit someone.

They have been infected with kindness.

The most unsuspecting people,

finally nice to others.

Her work here is done,

and now she can go home.

Her smiles were arrows through the darkness.

We both didn’t have a choice but the night had to pass.

It hurts to see your face when we pretended to laugh, to conceal the tears our matchmaker couldn’t hear.

Every smile was so fake that it became real.

Your hand in mines. And my hand through your hair.

"Wealth is well known to be a great comforter..."

Plato

All over the world people are just fighting for equality!!! People are ready for anything for “democracy” and “justice”... Even the whole of humanity strives for equality!!! But isn’t real injustice in this material equality??? Why isn’t everyone equal in money and wealth in the world??? Why doesn't anyone fight against that??? An interesting and strange paradox...