Published December 23, 2011
"For the First Time"
A necklace,
lost and found.
Irony, bitterness.
A whisper,
tempting,
full of promise.
A bribe,
attempted but not accepted.
A duel,
equal opposites.
For the first time,
recognition
that they are evenly matched.
A halfhearted rescue,
hoping there will be no regret.
A startling revelation.
A surprised,
hopeful pause.
Mutuality.
For the first time,
understanding.
An awkward,
sympathetic conversation.
Another necklace,
this time an amulet,
a souvenir of a previous encounter.
Hesitation.
An abrupt interruption
which changes the course of destiny.
A betrayal.
Rage, despair.
An emotion which he does not want to name regret.
A surprise.
Shock, disbelief.
Unearthing emotions
and memories laid to rest.
A threat, a promise.
Cold hatred,
different from the heated anger of battle.
An offer, a gesture.
Cold, harsh recollections.
A need to tell the story,
no matter how painful the memory,
because she needs him to understand
why she is doing this.
Slow acceptance,
eventual reconciliation.
For the first time,
hope for something deeper.
An instinct to protect,
a willingness to sacrifice.
Returning the favor,
a life for a life.
Making up
for all the times
they hurt each other.
A whisper,
the realization that
neither would be alive
if not for the other.
A cup of tea,
a smile of gratitude,
a sparkle in his eye
that says, "I'm happy
and honored to be your friend."