Silk lace tied tight

Toes arching in pale spotlight

How did we get here?

Drum beats thrum

Bodies twisting in silver cloud

How did we get here?

Hearts thumping

Dancing apart… together

Preforming in this Cirque de Solie

Chased by a spotlight

Coming close but never touching

Chased by a spotlight

Coming close again never touching

Performing in this Cirque de Solie

Eyes twinkling

Lips drawn in bloody smile

I know we are here

Black costume flaring

Feelings tossed in trash can

I know we are here.

This life in the limelight

Dark shadows watch the edges

This is Cirque de Solie

Barest whisper of violins

Thrumming beat of the drum

Heaven is Cirque de Solie

*pic credit to Mark Crislip

"This." He sighed, sweeping his arm through the air. "This is what ignorance does." Tendrils of smoke drifted from the dummies he was gesturing at.

"I'm sorry." I muttered. "I just want to pass the test so I can officially be with you." It slapped me what that sounded like. "In the field, of course."

"Of course." He nodded. "Ignorance causes death and unnecessary destruction." He pressed a button and a new set of dummies rolled out. "Again."

I stood in front of the first dummy and readied myself. My muscles tensed and I crouched.

"Steady. You need to tighten your stomach more instead of your back. Think fluid not brick wall."

I stood for a few more seconds before I relaxed.

"What are you doing? Don't you want to pass? Again." He demanded.

I still stayed relaxed. "If ignorance causes death and destruction then shouldn't we tell our partner the truth about ourselves."

He brushed against my back and accidentally wafted the masculine scent of sweat and gunpowder over me. "I suppose so. You really should focus on your test first."

I shook my head. "Do you trust me?" I spun around and faced him. I felt the trembles dancing up my back. This was stupid but it was too late to back out. His blue eyes watched mine with rapture as he almost danced back and forth with my trembling body. It was mesmerizing the way he wove. Focus. You need to focus. I steeled myself and leaned in.

His lips were so soft and moulded to mine. I couldn't help myself and tangled my hands in his short blonde hair. I moved to pull back, to accept the rejection and banishment, but his hands were suddenly tugging on my hair and pushing me closer.

We broke away breathless and soundless. He took a step back and grinned. "You still have to practice for your test. Again!"

I stare at these cracks

Run my fingers over their knife edges

Stinging my fingertips with blood

I pick at them until a tender shard

Falls

Shatters on the black tile

A beautiful lie of shimmering promises

I stare at this mess

That I created with my hands

And slowly begin to gather the pieces

And build,

Mould the cruel shards into

A soft heart

That thrums with my breath.