The Masquerade Ball

Just a dance tainted with the poison of never.

How does my quill still spill your name?
Is it muscle memory or,
The comfort of knowing that your memory is the only thing,
I have ever had.
We waltz around each other,
Dressed up for this masquerade ball.
Our eyes linger,
Consoling our insanity,
And the orchestra plays the tune whispering,
“Cowards in the name of love.”
You have her wrapped around you,
Like a serpent watch,
While you pass remarks about suitors,
Who ask for my heart.
Our egos killed the chances of a “maybe?”,
The skeletons in our closets share a cup of tea,
Laughing about how we dance with others,
Acting like we aren’t haunted by the memories.

Look in my eyes?
Can you even see a glint of tragedy?
The ballroom chatter faded,
But the papers still printed, “What happened?”,
The lights get dimmer,
The ball is about to end,
I just heard you called for me even after the end.
But the gates have closed,
Too many stairs to get back to you,
Too many rooms to search for the right version of you.
I wish you knew I wasn’t a coward,
But I am a coward in front of you.
Final sights of you flash before me.
We said our unsaid goodbye years ago,
What’s one more twist of the blade?
This one won’t even hurt.
We weren’t anything,
But at the same time we weren’t nothing.
The orchestra has stopped,
Masks fall to the floor,
You can see every face but mine.
Everyone bids farewell,
But we never danced under the starlight.
Ah! Broken promises. Our speciality.