as the tapping becomes steady
pulsing through her flesh as her wrist
gyrates to the beat
eyelashes sweep her rosy cheeks
shoulders relax into her spine
and her neck begins to sway
back and forth
the intricate mask is cracking
away from the world
where no one can see the rawness
underneath
but me
the light goes out
leaving me alone in the room
with an occasional tap of her pen
to let me know
she’s okay
across the room the droplet
catches itself in the
poor lighting
glistening down her seemingly
perfect face
and then the syllables
waft in softly
and suddenly
neither of us is
alone
