The Dance Partner by Ali Hie

A sweet warm breeze blew across the long grass of the meadow as the sun shone white amongst the brilliant blue sky. In the distance the wind danced with the full leaves of the trees that lined the horizon. A charming lullaby was carried from the trees on the wings of the gentle wind. Beneath the cool shade of a wise willow’s arms, beside the soft brook that trickled down passed the gardens, a pair sat upon a yellow blanket. A red and white polka dot, belted dress, sat poised; right arm extended, sipping water slowly from a crystal clear glass. Eyes closing as she enjoyed the cold refreshment. She breathed deeply; the intoxicating spring smell was divine. The long willow’s branches waved majestically around the two as they sat quietly and contently in one another’s company. Her company was pleased, always enjoying the times when she would visit. Leaned up on one arm, legs extended across the yellow blanket, with a smile that few could resist. As the day passed the sound of laughter could be heard for miles, had there been anyone else around to hear. The bellow grew and grew as the warmth from the sun rose from their right and began to fall on their left. As it set the brilliant blue sky was transformed by the ending day, into bursts of deep purples and pinks. When the night had fallen, the sky still very clear, the wind calmed. Beneath the wise willow’s arms the red dress twirled in the hands of the other. Slowly swaying hand in hand, a spotlight shone from the hovering glow of the moon. Their silhouette became one as they danced closer. The night had drawn silent but for the gentle hum of the passing brook. No music. No words. No noise. A quick wind blew up the willows branches surrounding the two, inviting new scents to the gathering. The sweetness in the air had departed to a captivating spice. The wind made the woman shudder and pull away for a moment from her dance partner. She returned comfortably, she had danced here before. She had grown quite comfortable with this company. She gazed into the night not blinking, and not wiping the single drop that fell along the crease of her pale cheek. She continued to stare into the nothingness as her dance partner spun her around playfully. Stepping lightly, as the grass was cool and dewy under her bare feet, she twirled. And when she returned to the leads embrace she glanced up, locking eyes. She could still remember the first time that she danced. What had happened right before and right after were somewhat of a blur but the sights, sounds, and smells of the first dance stood out in her mind so colorfully, her thoughts so clear, it felt like travelling through time. It was a night not as clear as this. There was a fog hovering over the glow of the moon the first time, a fog so thick that trees were nearly indistinguishable. She was much smaller then and did not quite know the dance moves. Upon her partners feet she learned the steps. As shy as she was at this age she did not feel frightened by this stranger. Her arms reached up high to be guided by the other’s hands and they twirled around and around that first night. The first time she looked into those eyes, she knew somewhere in the pit of her soul that she shouldn’t have been there but there was something so inviting about those eyes, something that made her feel okay and she knew from that first moment that there would be many more dances in her life.Cutting through the dark of the night the full glow of the red eyes stared back at her. The light of the moon emphasizing the strong contrast of the gleaming white teeth set behind that twisted smile. A turned up full collar lined the snow like skin before her, resting along the hollow cheekbones. The black cloak and red dress spun wildly in the moonlight.

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