Dancing With Somebody Else 2

I twisted, turned, hopped, and leaped. Adrenaline rushed through my body, sparks of energy lighting up underneath my feet as I tapped across the floor. He held my hand, the lifeline in the chaos, as we danced. No, more than danced. We were fire.

He twirled me around, around, around, then spontaneously dipped me. I laughed, and threw my head back, but then I saw him standing on the wings.

Heartbroken.

Wishing.

Vulnerable.

Dale swung me up and started prancing again. I went through the motions, but the fire was gone.

I tried to smile. I tried to laugh, tried to mask my pain. He was the one who left.

He was hostile.

Hardening.

Slowly shrinking from my touch.

But somehow I can’t get the picture from my head of us dancing down the grocery aisle. Hr would spin me, dip me until I was dizzy with laughter and trying to keep the box of oatmeal aloft above my head. Or was it pancake mix?

The scene is already fading from my memory.

I turn our dancing around, look over my shoulder for Jake. Our eyes lock for a moment, and then he turns and walks away, slowly, and I am filled with agonizing pain.