By Megs
Date: 22 May 2000

He Knows

He knows.  She pulls away from the kiss a second too soon but in that second
he knows.  He knows he is kissing lips that are no longer only his.  He felt
the violation when he touched her.  He sees the brilliant red scarlet letter
tattooed on her heart.  He knows.

She knows.  She pulls away from his kiss because it felt so wrong and she never
could figure out how to fake a feeling.  She knows that the imprint of someone
else's kiss has left an indeliable mark on her soul and maybe no other kiss
would ever satisfy.  She feels guilty and relieved all at once.  She knows.

He knows.  There are two ways to go.  Two paths before him.  He chooses to take
the most familiar.  He touches her again and tries to manufacture intimacy by
launching into the same routine, paint by number, foreplay.  He knows it won't
feel right but he fears his other option.  He has always been the type to go
with what he knows.

She knows.  She nearly shudders with revulsion when he brushes her bare skin.
With her clothes off she feels that her heart is also revealed to him.  She knows he will be startled to not see himself in there any more.   She knows
there are marks on her body from another man.  She knows that last night when
chills passed over her body it was only from the startling perfection of the
way he took her.  She can't be with anyone else.  She knows.

They know.  The dance is futile.  The steps are different.  The partners are
wrong and its time someone else cuts in.  They know that once one of them
changes so much that the other one changes too.  They know neither can ignore
the uncertainty with which they approach each other.  Without a word it is over.
They know.

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