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I tug at my sleeves once more, folding them neatly up onto my forearms was a good choice as the hall is warm with anticipation. Not even entering the main room I can feel the thrum and murmur of strangers and friends alike. I click my dress shoes twice against the door frame and push into the lights. The silver fabric of my shirt is bright and yet I feel plain as everyone surges around the room, glittering cheap jewelry but making up for it in elegant clothes and makeup. Darting my eyes around I search for you, but I know it’s useless, if you were here yet I would certainly know. Nothing about you is quiet and tonight will be no different.
You practically dance into the hall, flowing with laughter and twirling in red. You’ve never worn a dress before you told me but, I think you were born to be free in the wine dark sea of the fabric we chose. It wraps round your waist and exposes your shoulders, tugging at your elbows as you raise your arms in warmth and welcome. I felt so plain standing here amongst all our friends, but you have made sure to stand out more than anything anyone else could capture. The energy you bring blinds me as my stunned silence has brought you over and crashing into my arms. You squeeze me tight and a blush creeps into my face as you lean into me fully grabbing me by the elbows.
“Langa,” you breath in my ear, “dance,” I feel a hand around my waist and am pulled forward into the crowd of moving people right behind you. Nervous I stumble a step or two, but you pull me up and spin me around by my waist leaving no choice but to hold on tight or be sent crashing into someone else’s drink. The spin is childish and free, colors around us blur and your vibrancy takes up my vision with a final flourish. Laughter is pulled out of my chest as you slow and look into my eyes so alive amongst all the other dancers. These people are practiced poise, you are just burning through them, I pull you close, not to see the questioning eyes around the floor. Our foreheads rest together, and we fall in time with the piano. You squeeze your eyes shut as we laugh through the breathlessness, I guide us around the floor slowly and calmly. Gently I take your hands and put one on my shoulder and hold up the other, sliding my own around your waist and softly into the fabric. A soft smile escapes as I close the gap between us. You look up at me in pleasant surprise, it’s just to fit between the people joining the dancefloor I mutter in my head, that’s all, though we know that’s a lie when my smile never wavers. You should be the envy of all here and I’ll be the display case.
Contrast of musical time, your life and my calm our dance is random, swinging and then soft, raging and warm. We step step step in time for eternity dipping with more energy than the adults can afford. We dance until the people once again thin, and we are forced to sit for whatever the event was for. Wrapped in you I’ve truly forgotten.