Let's Play Pretend


The children do it all the time, playing make-believe
Imagining themselves to heroes or villains, or anyone they want to be
When playtime is over they slip back into their ordinary lives
Leaving their alter egos, till in sleep they're revived

Let's play pretend, just you and I
Whatever happens, it isn't for real
It's only a game, no sorrows or sighs
Don't worry about how you'll make me feel.

I'll pretend I don't hurt when you don't care
You'll pretend you're ignorant, though you really know
I'll pretend my heart doesn't flutter whenever you're there
You'll pretend I don't tail you wherever you go
With my eyes across the room, street or town

We'll pretend that nothing's changed at all
We'll pretend that we're just good friends
Make-believe isn't just for kids,
So come on baby, let's play pretend

And at night
I'll pretend the shadows are your hands, yours lips
Caressing my face
I'll pretend that you're beside me, instead of empty space
I'll pretend the ticking of my watch is your heart
And that the breath of the wind your sigh

Morning comes again too soon,
It seems I just can't face another day
Then I tell myself today will be different
From the ten thousand before, that it will end another way.

And you know the craziest thing? I believe it
Until the sun sets below the dusky horizon
And I find myself back here once more
Alone, behind my sliding door

We're getting really good at this game, we are
Almost masters, I would say
At hiding and skirting and self-deceiving
Maybe it's better this way

No one gets hurt when things go sour
As all such things are wont to do
It's like tightrope walking on a crack in the floorboards
No need for a safety net to catch you
No chance of falling
No chance of crashing
No harsh words to be exchanged
No tears when you leave

But we can't keep this up forever,
Can't keep averting our eyes
Pretending everything's fine though it's not
How do you run when the trigger's inside?

Come on darling, what do we have to lose but our hearts?
I can't lose you – you were never mine
You never let me close enough to touch you
And I never let you get near enough to try

Please let's not pretend anymore
Let's ride with the wind and give it a try
Let's stop avoiding and putting aside
We may fall, but how else can we fly?

I can't stand another day of this masquerade
Can't stand feeling so much but not saying
So let's not play pretend, you and I any more
Or tell me love-
Am I the only one playing?


Written: Friday, September 07, 2001

~

Notes:

I didn't write for any particular couple; I suppose it would most likely be for my Sakura Petals' pairing, Aoshi/Jade, set in RK time, but it could really suit almost any couple. When coming up with it, I did kept thinking of an A/Megumi pairing, for some reason… Always did want to write something featuring them ^^