A shifty-eyed glance
A turn and whisper
All of the girls, dressed in their best
Teeth shining, dresses shimmering brighter.
Each a silent plea,
“Look,” they say, “notice me,”
They scream.
A dance,
On a cliff. A fine line.
The boys in tuxes,
Each one’s hair is coifed, perfectly, to the side.
Unmoving.
And so it goes,
Bright, flashy,
Until one girl walks to the edge.
An ugly thought enters her beautiful head,
Her smooth complexion a perfect mask
As to what lies inside.
She looks quietly to the world below.
She turns to the shuffling crowd behind,
Smiles, and extends her arms,
They run.
A mob of crystalline sequins,
Dark suits and shining shoes.
Time stops for a moment.
Then they all jump.
No questions, no thoughts,
A hop, a skip, and a bound,
Gone.
Three remain.
They stare, eyes gaping, mouths wide.
What just happened? Their eyes ask one another.
They quietly regain composure,
They each walk away,
Their own person.