I lean in close
Pensively gazing back over my shoulder 
And out the door for the fifth time in as many minutes 
I look relieved 
Though the news that we are alone 
Is not something new 
And is still not completely reassuring 
Whispered air slips past 
My throat as it closes 
Lips turned up into their corners 
Deep and sharp and quaking as another laugh is stifled 
They remind you of dimples 
Even if they can’t be seen over my blushing cheeks 

The warm breeze of a heated conversation 
Fills the room and slowly surrounds us 
Like the dense fog 
On a night in the harbor 
Air thick with salt and vapor 
A jet black night against an ink black sea 
My words call out to you 
A sing-song voice inviting you back in 
Back into the conversation we’ve been having far longer 
Than either cares to admit 
Back to this in-between place, I beg you, 
A quip and a new idea like the songs of a siren 
Back into this stalemate of giggles and smiles 
Neither able to make eye contact because we are too busy 
Winking and batting eyelashes 
Back into this comfortable take-turning 
Of making the other squirm 
And I might stay here for a while

 
Back to where I want to be 
Smiling, laughing, and carefree 
Forget about the rest of the world 
And be present here, with me 
This is the only place I can exist 
And so I say to stay a few moments longer 
Just a few more minutes, I insist 

It’s never silent or still 
And if it were 
Only then would it be wrong 
Another crumb of truth falls from my lips 
And lands between our feet 
You and I both stare with sly smiles 
And crooked heads to match 
Questioning if we’d have both been better off 
If I had chosen deceit 
But I didn’t want to lie to you or myself 
And I’ve come to value honesty above all else 
Sometimes we find it too easy to forget 
That sharing secrets is not always a gift 

The end is coming now 
Like grains of sand in the wind 
The conversation dissipates 
And we retreat 
We cast a glance over our shoulders as we part 
And another after that, for good measure 
But it will never manage to feel complete 

Victoria Lane is a graduating senior at Lindenwood, completing her degree with majors in Game Design, Digital and Web Design, and Art History. She plans to continue her education through Lindenwood’s Writing MFA, where she intends to write more original fiction and poetry. She loves to read comic books, collect action figures, watch films, play video games, make art, and yes, write. 

Portfolio – victoriamlane.com

Instagram – @victoriamadilynlanee