Look at her

I want to steal a glance
at her subtle perfection
but this room is too full
ff distractions
I can't seem to catch her eye

No, that's an excuse.

Because she wills me to look
How can I deny her?
Something is squeezing
the life out of me
I can feel my energy draining
I suppress a shiver
and shake her brothers hand
off my shoulder

Just a warning, he said.

She's right there
Across the room
I can hear her laugh
Floating is way to my ears

"Look at me"

What if I misunderstood her?
She may not have intended for me to notice her
but how could I not?

There's a man at her side
I can't look at her directly
her dress dances around her knees
my heart lurched
I can't bring myself to look at her face

It hurts;
the way my ribs are crushing my lungs
I'm not cold anymore
her brothers glare is directed at another

I suck in oxygen
Step out of the puddle of fear
(that's seems to have accumulated at my feet)
Grabbing a glass of liquid courage
And head toward the door
The deciding factor
Will she notice I'm gone?

I tense.

What if she never knew I was there?
I downed the courage
the burning sensation heats my soul
yet the nagging feeling remains

Look at her.

I turn;
her eyes meet mine.