clasping their hands together
they're swinging their arms widely
laughing with each other for a change
their feet silent in the midst of others
stomping and racing along this chicago sidewalk
splashing their feet in the fountains
and swinging around the trees
they're swerving through and through the people
chasing each other like a cat and a mouse
but with no ill intentions
and as they smile at each other
they ignore how one is 45 pounds underweight
and the other has over 100 scars over their body
'what do you see, what you look in the mirror?'
he breathes to her, smoke curling out of her mouth
she does not respond, her head leaning against the wall, back curled against the floor, feet kicked up towards the ceiling
'i am serious. what do you see when you look in the mirror?'
his voice grows as she stares at her, cigarette balanced between his teeth
she finally responds
'what does it matter?'
he groans and palms his face slowly
before facing her, 'so what anna-marette told me was true?'
her face goes blank, before looking away from him
'i want you to stand up.'
he declares, standing up himself and holding a hand out for her
she ignores it.
his face is suddenly distorted by anger as he reaches down
and grips her arm painfully and yanks her up
and she cries in response, a cigarette fallen to the ground
'what do you see, when you look in the mirror?'
he asks her again, and her breathe is shaking, but she glances
to the mirror to the left of them
and she sees them, covered in bruises and messy clothes
hair and makeup is everywhere, and their skin is pasty
but their noses and eyes are bright red
and she glances at him
hands on his hips staring at her defiantly
before she wets her lips nervously, before speaking,
'beauty.'
you're gazing at the fry for a few seconds, before shrugging, easily popping it into your mouth
your face is blank for a few seconds as you chew it, before suddenly your eyes are wide and your hands fly to cover your mouth
and we're watching confused and amazed all the same as you're jumping from your seat and running down the length of the table
before grabbing the garbage can with all your might, and tucking your head in
we don't need to be genius' to know what you were doing.
we just all look away awkwardly as you star there for ten seconds
20 seconds
30 seconds
before slowly you lift your head up, and stumble over to the water fountain
and by now we're glancing silently at our lunches
and he moves to throw his away
as she slowly walks back over to us, silently collapsing into her seat
face white and ashy
--lynn
