Your eyes were the color of distraction

Your face, speckled with the sands of time

But you did not see me,

Merely glanced in my direction.

So, I stood there letting the warmth of your presence wash over me

And fade away forever.

You promised me moonlight

but gave me city lights.

How artificial

How fake

How... unpromising.

I didn't trust those city lights

Only because it wasn't moonlight.

But you took my hand

Took my heart

And took my eyes

You showed me around your city

And showed how authentic the lights were.

The once artificial glow

Was now warm and inviting.

You took me into the city of your eyes every day

Showing my the playful shows

And street performers

You accepted me into the arms of risk

And the arms of safety

All at the same time.

I thought it was too loud

Too boastful in the city

Too much was happening all at once

You said maybe the city wasn't for me

And so I left

And I fled to the valley

And to the mountaintops

It was... serene

Until the fire broke out.

The fire burned and brought out the worst in me

It melted away the wax layer of my body

And left behind my hardened heart

Glass eyes

And meaningless skeleton.

With the last of my energy,

I looked back at the city.

This time, from far away.

It had never looked so beautiful

It was as exciting as before but

This time, silent.

It was serene with subtle hints of romance and innocent love.

I needed to go back.

And so I fled

I fled back to the city.

I thought it had changed,

But I was wrong.

It was I who had changed.

The day came to an end

As the shops began to close

Workers are returning back to their lives at home

I was alone.

Except for you.

The last of the city lights.

And so we danced;

A tango with the smallest but the brightest light

I could ever imagine.

The lights were warmer, hotter

It was exciting how you could bend the light

We taught each other our tricks

With each trick and each bend

Our love grew faster and faster 

Until we thought we had no control anymore

Until our light burst.

Burst into a thousand tiny, youthful flames.

The glass shattered everywhere

Dusting the ground like snowflakes in the winter

Scattered all over our skin and lips;

A reminder of our tango.

Darkness.

At least thats what we thought we caused.

Without that small city light

What could be our torch in this dark, cold night?

And then I looked up.

I saw the stars.

I saw the moonlight that you promised me.

The Afterglow.