Sitting in a brownstone 
Together, but not.
The distance between them insurmountable.
In a 12x12 room 
She - fingering piano keys, 
He - reading the daily,
Their relationship as taupe as the walls.

Had it always been like this?
Surely not!
He had loved her once; 
She had loved him back. 
But now the silence spoke volumes
And they continued to divide.

I didn't see him watching. I know people won't believe that but I truly didn't. I was walking along, minding my own on the way home from school when he got me. 

I had a bad day. I was on yearbook and things weren't going well. I wasn't popular, so no one cared about my opinion. That's junior high, I guess. Anyway, my mom always told me that I needed to walk with my head high but that really wasn't me. Along with being self conscious, I was incredibly clumsy. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I didn't look down. Now I wish I would have taken her advice.

So, I felt these hands grab my shoulders and knock me off balance. They pulled me into the bushes. I didn't scream because it happened so fast. Honestly, I thought it was probably one of those kids from yearbook. Once I was laying in the bushes though, I noticed my shoe was gone. My mom was going to kill me. I just got those last week.

The rest happened quickly...almost painlessly as he slid the steel across my throat and my shirt got wet. It was strange, the calm that came as the blackness began to claim me. The last thing I saw as he drug me to the trash bin behind the school was the single, red shoe by the sidewalk. I hope Mom won't be too bad. They were brand new.

I watched as you slept, 
So peaceful, so sound, 
Yet I knew it was just a matter of time. 
They would come; they always do. 
I couldn't imagine being without you. 
I couldn't imagine them taking you back. 
So as you slept, 
I slid my pen knife into the side of your pretty head, just at the temple so as not to disturb your beauty, 
And now you're always with me; 
Now you'll never leave.

They called her kitten.

Beautiful disaster,

Transvestite terrorist,

Killer queen.

Redeemed by the love of one once lost, yet persecuted by ignorance,

Saved by the fireproof man.

She had body issues, that was no secret. She hid behind baggy sweaters and long skirts just to feel better in her own skin.

He had his own skeletons. He didn't really believe he was as good, no that wasn't exactly it, he didn't believe he was on the same level as other people. So even with his extreme intelligence and talent he sold himself short.

They both had their transgressions but together they were fire. They understood each other in a way that brought about complete nakedness; an utter lack of positioning. From each other, they simply wanted a rawness, a freedom that isn't often found.

"I missed you," he whispered as he pulled her closer. And that was probably as naked as he'd ever been.