full

[18+] “Icarus Dreams, a Glass Heart, and Slippers to Take Me Home” by Andrew French (read by the Author)

[18+] An exotic dancer comes to an epiphany regarding his lost boyfriend and his own loneliness.

Today’s story is “Icarus Dreams, a Glass Heart, and Slippers to Take Me Home” by Andrew “Aethan” French, who wrote the comic Circles and writes the weekly comic strip The Pigpen. You can find more of his stories on FurAffinity.

Read by the Author.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/18-icarus-dreams-a-glass-heart-and-slippers-to-take-me-home-by-andrew-french

Transcript
Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf, your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Icarus

Speaker:

Dreams,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

Glass

Speaker:

Heart,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Slippers

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Take

Speaker:

Me

Speaker:

Home”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Andrew “Aethan”

Speaker:

French,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

wrote

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

comic

Speaker:

Circles

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

writes

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

weekly

Speaker:

comic

Speaker:

strip

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Pigpen.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

FurAffinity.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Author.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Icarus

Speaker:

Dreams,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

Glass

Speaker:

Heart,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Slippers

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Take

Speaker:

Me

Speaker:

Home”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Andrew “Aethan”

Speaker:

French

I'm

Speaker:

dancing,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

dance,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

dance

Speaker:

alone.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

fastidious

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

keeping

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

carefully

Speaker:

empty

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

dance.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

club

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

half-full

Speaker:

tonight,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

all,

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stage.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

dance,

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

gyrating

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

anonymous

Speaker:

beat.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

song

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

lyrics,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

cannot

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rhythm,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

move

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Many

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

dancers

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

rude

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

lewd

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

measure

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

music,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

start

Speaker:

innocently,

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

drawing

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

audience

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

desire

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

Louis

Speaker:

owns

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

club,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

says

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

best

Speaker:

dancer

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

has.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

says

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

seduce

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

audience,

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

virgin

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

incubus.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

says

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fuck

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

plead

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

using

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

lips,

Speaker:

hips,

Speaker:

tail,

Speaker:

arms,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

legs.

Speaker:

But,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

I am

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

dancing,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

how.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

dancing

Speaker:

is sensual,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

people

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

sexual,

Speaker:

so,

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

is.

I have

Speaker:

built

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

motions,

Speaker:

slowly

Speaker:

moving

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

making

Speaker:

rolling,

Speaker:

undulating

Speaker:

strokes

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

hips

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

recall

Speaker:

swimming

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

Uncle's

Speaker:

pool,

Speaker:

but,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

expressions of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

audience,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

they are

Speaker:

thinking

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

swimming

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

silk

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

satin

Speaker:

sheets.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

mind

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

that.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

gave

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

minding

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

ago.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

pretend

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

innocent

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

want,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

cannot

Speaker:

pretend

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

ignorant

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

offended.

Speaker:

They are

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

watch

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

dance

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

fantasize,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

deny

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

either,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

pleases

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

costume

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

wearing

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

largely

Speaker:

discarded.

Speaker:

I am

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

wearing

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

tight

Speaker:

posing

Speaker:

pouch,

Speaker:

barely

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

silk

Speaker:

jockstrap,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

wishes

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

blunt.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

empty

heart:

heart:

I

heart:

always

heart:

wear

heart:

my

heart:

empty

heart:

heart

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

dance.

heart:

It

heart:

rests

heart:

against

heart:

the

heart:

soft,

heart:

sleek

heart:

fur

heart:

of

heart:

my

heart:

chest,

heart:

its

heart:

cord

heart:

warm

heart:

around

heart:

my

heart:

neck.

heart:

I

heart:

find

heart:

its

heart:

presence

heart:

comforting.

heart:

In

heart:

the

heart:

five

heart:

years

heart:

I have

heart:

possessed

heart:

it,

heart:

I have

heart:

never

heart:

removed

heart:

it,

heart:

except

heart:

once,

heart:

when

heart:

its

heart:

original

heart:

cord

heart:

broke.

"Take

heart:

it

heart:

off!"

heart:

someone

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

crowd

heart:

crows,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

smile,

heart:

obligingly

heart:

sliding

heart:

my

heart:

paws

heart:

down

heart:

my

heart:

chest

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

posing

heart:

pouch's

heart:

tie-strings.

heart:

With

heart:

deliberate

heart:

slowness,

heart:

I

heart:

pull

heart:

the

heart:

strings,

heart:

letting

heart:

the

heart:

slip

heart:

of

heart:

cloth

heart:

fall

heart:

away,

heart:

revealing

heart:

everything

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

room

heart:

full

heart:

of

heart:

strangers.

heart:

I am

heart:

half-erect,

heart:

my

heart:

slender

heart:

shaft

heart:

rising

heart:

from

heart:

its

heart:

sheath,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

hear

heart:

a

heart:

number

heart:

of

heart:

appreciative

heart:

wolf-whistles

heart:

and

heart:

cat-calls.

heart:

I

heart:

smile

heart:

for

heart:

them,

heart:

with

heart:

no

heart:

joy

heart:

in

heart:

my

heart:

eyes.

heart:

If

heart:

I

heart:

have

heart:

given

heart:

up

heart:

being

heart:

embarrassed

heart:

by

heart:

the

heart:

admiration

heart:

and

heart:

fantasies

heart:

of

heart:

others,

heart:

I have

heart:

likewise

heart:

given

heart:

up

heart:

my

heart:

own

heart:

dreams

heart:

for

heart:

theirs.

heart:

I

heart:

run

heart:

my

heart:

fingers

heart:

up

heart:

again,

heart:

into

heart:

the

heart:

tight

heart:

tangle

heart:

of

heart:

black

heart:

curls

heart:

atop

heart:

my

heart:

head,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

close

heart:

my

heart:

eyes,

heart:

tilting

heart:

my

heart:

head

heart:

back

heart:

as

heart:

if

heart:

in

heart:

ecstasy.

heart:

I

heart:

part

heart:

my

heart:

lips

heart:

slightly,

heart:

letting

heart:

my

heart:

tongue

heart:

glide

heart:

lightly

heart:

over

heart:

my

heart:

teeth,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

hear

heart:

at

heart:

least

heart:

one

heart:

incoherent

heart:

moan

heart:

from

heart:

my

heart:

audience.

heart:

They are

heart:

sweet

heart:

tonight,

heart:

and

heart:

they

heart:

want

heart:

me,

heart:

badly.

heart:

I

heart:

slowly

heart:

sink

heart:

to

heart:

my

heart:

knees.

heart:

The

heart:

pounding

heart:

rhythm

heart:

has

heart:

slowed

heart:

and it

heart:

draws

heart:

towards

heart:

its

heart:

softer

heart:

climax.

heart:

As

heart:

it

heart:

hits

heart:

one

heart:

long,

heart:

lingering

heart:

moment

heart:

of

heart:

silence,

heart:

I

heart:

sink

heart:

forward,

heart:

onto

heart:

my

heart:

hands

heart:

and

heart:

knees,

heart:

and,

heart:

finally,

heart:

down

heart:

onto

heart:

my

heart:

face,

heart:

the

heart:

very

heart:

picture

heart:

of

heart:

a

heart:

man

heart:

exhausted

heart:

by

heart:

the

heart:

pleasure

heart:

he has

heart:

had

heart:

or

heart:

of

heart:

a

heart:

boy,

heart:

overwhelmed

heart:

by

heart:

feelings

heart:

he

heart:

cannot

heart:

control.

heart:

The

heart:

stage

heart:

goes

heart:

dark,

heart:

and

heart:

I am

heart:

quick

heart:

to

heart:

scuttle

heart:

offstage,

heart:

even

heart:

as

heart:

thunderous

heart:

applause

heart:

replaces

heart:

the

heart:

pounding

heart:

beat.

heart:

I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

like

heart:

to

heart:

wait

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

dark

heart:

for

heart:

their

heart:

questing

heart:

paws,

heart:

even

heart:

when

heart:

they are

heart:

filled

heart:

with

heart:

money.

heart:

Many

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

other

heart:

dancers

heart:

let

heart:

the

heart:

customers

heart:

push

heart:

money

heart:

into

heart:

the

heart:

straps

heart:

of

heart:

their

heart:

stringy

heart:

costumes,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

relish

heart:

the

heart:

feeling

heart:

of

heart:

it.

heart:

I

heart:

am

heart:

not

heart:

a

heart:

whore,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

have

heart:

some

heart:

pride.

heart:

I

heart:

will

heart:

let

heart:

them

heart:

want

heart:

me,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

will

heart:

not

heart:

let them

heart:

touch

heart:

me.

As

heart:

I

heart:

flee

heart:

off-stage,

heart:

I am

heart:

greeted

heart:

by

heart:

Louis,

heart:

who

heart:

grasps

heart:

my

heart:

wrist

heart:

and

heart:

pulls

heart:

me

heart:

back

heart:

on,

heart:

much

heart:

to

heart:

my

heart:

annoyance.

heart:

Louis

heart:

thinks I am

heart:

too

heart:

shy,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

likes

heart:

to

heart:

force

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

have

heart:

my

heart:

moment

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

spotlight.

heart:

Louis

heart:

also

heart:

wants

heart:

to

heart:

fuck

heart:

me,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

won't

heart:

let

heart:

him.

heart:

The

heart:

price

heart:

for

heart:

this

heart:

is

heart:

that

heart:

he

heart:

can

heart:

do

heart:

almost

heart:

anything

heart:

else

heart:

with

heart:

me

heart:

he

heart:

wishes,

heart:

including

heart:

dragging

heart:

me

heart:

back

heart:

onstage,

heart:

when

heart:

what

heart:

I

heart:

would

heart:

rather

heart:

do

heart:

is

heart:

just

heart:

go and

heart:

be

heart:

alone

heart:

for

heart:

a

heart:

little

heart:

while.

heart:

The

heart:

spotlights

heart:

catch

heart:

us

heart:

as

heart:

we

heart:

return

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

stage,

heart:

and

heart:

the

heart:

calls

heart:

come

heart:

again.

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

smell

heart:

the

heart:

audience's

heart:

arousal,

heart:

as

heart:

thick

heart:

as

heart:

the

heart:

smell

heart:

of

heart:

beer,

heart:

and,

heart:

for

heart:

a

heart:

moment,

heart:

I am

heart:

the

heart:

one

heart:

who is

heart:

overwhelmed.

heart:

It has

heart:

been

heart:

three

heart:

years

heart:

since

heart:

my

heart:

last

heart:

real

heart:

relationship,

heart:

and

heart:

it has

heart:

been

heart:

two

heart:

months

heart:

since

heart:

I have

heart:

had

heart:

sex

heart:

with

heart:

anyone.

heart:

Even

heart:

I

heart:

am

heart:

not

heart:

immune

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

charms

heart:

I

heart:

weave,

heart:

at

heart:

times,

heart:

and,

heart:

at

heart:

that

heart:

moment,

heart:

if

heart:

Louis

heart:

had

heart:

asked,

heart:

I

heart:

would

heart:

have

heart:

relented.

heart:

If

heart:

the

heart:

audience

heart:

had

heart:

demanded

heart:

I

heart:

come

heart:

down

heart:

and

heart:

let

heart:

them

heart:

have

heart:

me,

heart:

I

heart:

would've.

heart:

It

heart:

is

heart:

a

heart:

moment

heart:

for

heart:

the

heart:

abandoning

heart:

of

heart:

morals,

heart:

sense,

heart:

and

heart:

sanity,

heart:

but,

heart:

thankfully,

heart:

it

heart:

is

heart:

only

heart:

a

heart:

moment,

heart:

and

heart:

it

heart:

passes.

heart:

I

heart:

smile,

heart:

demurely,

heart:

and

heart:

bow,

heart:

once,

heart:

then

heart:

slip

heart:

my

heart:

wrist

heart:

from

heart:

Louis'

heart:

grasp

heart:

and

heart:

vanish

heart:

offstage.

My

heart:

vanishing

heart:

is

heart:

not

heart:

well-received

heart:

by

heart:

the

heart:

audience,

heart:

and

heart:

even

heart:

less

heart:

well

heart:

by

heart:

Louis,

heart:

but

heart:

they are

heart:

both

heart:

distracted

heart:

by

heart:

Disraeli,

heart:

a

heart:

beautiful

heart:

young

heart:

mink,

heart:

who

heart:

dances

heart:

onstage

heart:

to

heart:

a

heart:

pounding

heart:

electronic

heart:

drum.

heart:

I am

heart:

able

heart:

to

heart:

return

heart:

to

heart:

my

heart:

dressing

heart:

room

heart:

in

heart:

peace,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

sink

heart:

into

heart:

my

heart:

chair,

heart:

staring

heart:

at

heart:

the

heart:

strange

heart:

boy

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

mirror

heart:

for

heart:

a

heart:

moment

heart:

before

heart:

I

heart:

recall

heart:

that

heart:

he's

heart:

me.

heart:

Otter

heart:

whiskers

heart:

trimmed

heart:

slightly

heart:

to

heart:

enhance

heart:

the

heart:

youthfulness

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

face,

heart:

eyes

heart:

ever-so-lightly

heart:

dabbed

heart:

with

heart:

kohl

heart:

to

heart:

enhance

heart:

how

heart:

bright

heart:

and

heart:

green

heart:

they

heart:

are.

heart:

My

heart:

hair

heart:

is

heart:

naturally

heart:

black,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

wear

heart:

it

heart:

cut

heart:

close

heart:

to

heart:

my

heart:

scalp,

heart:

keeping

heart:

it

heart:

just

heart:

long

heart:

enough

heart:

that

heart:

it

heart:

can

heart:

fall

heart:

in

heart:

my

heart:

eyes.

A

heart:

knock

heart:

on

heart:

my

heart:

door

heart:

turns

heart:

out

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

Louis. "You

heart:

were

heart:

incredible

heart:

tonight,"

heart:

he

heart:

says.

I

heart:

flash

heart:

him

heart:

a

heart:

winning

heart:

smile. "You

heart:

say

heart:

that

heart:

every

heart:

night.

heart:

One

heart:

of

heart:

these

heart:

days,

heart:

I

heart:

might

heart:

start

heart:

believing

heart:

it."

The

heart:

pudgy

heart:

beaver

heart:

smooths

heart:

out

heart:

his

heart:

suit-front. "Everyone

heart:

always

heart:

wants

heart:

you

heart:

to

heart:

stay

heart:

onstage

heart:

longer.

heart:

Maybe

heart:

we

heart:

should

heart:

have

heart:

you

heart:

do

heart:

two

heart:

numbers

heart:

in

heart:

each

heart:

set."

I

heart:

stare

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

mirror

heart:

and

heart:

dab

heart:

away

heart:

kohl. "Just

heart:

remember

heart:

what

heart:

P.

heart:

T.

heart:

Barnum

heart:

said.

heart:

Always

heart:

leave

heart:

them

heart:

wanting

heart:

more."

He

heart:

scratches

heart:

his

heart:

chin. "He

heart:

said

heart:

that?"

I

heart:

shrug. "Someone

heart:

said

heart:

it.

heart:

In

heart:

any

heart:

case,

heart:

if

heart:

you

heart:

give

heart:

them

heart:

too

heart:

much of

heart:

me

heart:

at

heart:

once,

heart:

they

heart:

might

heart:

not

heart:

come

heart:

back

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

club a

heart:

second

heart:

time."

"Oh,

heart:

so

heart:

now

heart:

you're

heart:

the

heart:

club's

heart:

biggest

heart:

attraction?"

heart:

he

heart:

says

heart:

with

heart:

a

heart:

chuckle.

I

heart:

smirk. "So

heart:

you

heart:

keep

heart:

telling

heart:

me."

He

heart:

glares

heart:

at

heart:

me

heart:

a

heart:

moment,

heart:

then

heart:

regains

heart:

his

heart:

composure. "You're really

heart:

good

heart:

kid,

heart:

and

heart:

damned

heart:

sexy,

heart:

and

heart:

we

heart:

both

heart:

know

heart:

it.

heart:

I

heart:

just

heart:

wish

heart:

you'd

heart:

be

heart:

a

heart:

little

heart:

nicer

heart:

to

heart:

some

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

club's

heart:

regulars."

heart:

Neither

heart:

of

heart:

us

heart:

say

heart:

it,

heart:

but

heart:

we

heart:

both

heart:

understand

heart:

that

heart:

he

heart:

includes

heart:

himself

heart:

in

heart:

that

heart:

statement.

"I'm

heart:

a

heart:

dancer,"

heart:

I

heart:

say,

heart:

softly. "I

heart:

dance.

heart:

If

heart:

they

heart:

want

heart:

sex,

heart:

they

heart:

can

heart:

go

heart:

find

heart:

a

heart:

rent-boy.

heart:

That's

heart:

not

heart:

my

heart:

line

heart:

of

heart:

work." I

heart:

go

heart:

back

heart:

to

heart:

removing

heart:

kohl. "I

heart:

don't

heart:

mind

heart:

being

heart:

stared

heart:

at,

heart:

drooled

heart:

over,

heart:

and

heart:

dreamed

heart:

about,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

touched."

heart:

I

heart:

give

heart:

him

heart:

a

heart:

sweet

heart:

smile. "Not

heart:

by

heart:

anybody."

He's

heart:

about

heart:

to

heart:

retort,

heart:

when

heart:

there's

heart:

another

heart:

knock

heart:

on

heart:

the

heart:

door.

heart:

Its

heart:

Charlie,

heart:

my

heart:

best

heart:

friend

heart:

at

heart:

the

heart:

club,

heart:

and

heart:

he's

heart:

holding

heart:

a

heart:

huge

heart:

bouquet

heart:

of

heart:

flowers.

heart:

I

heart:

stare

heart:

at

heart:

him. "They're

heart:

for

heart:

you,"

heart:

he

heart:

says,

heart:

smiling,

heart:

handing

heart:

them

heart:

to

heart:

me. "Want

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

get

heart:

a

heart:

vase?"

heart:

I

heart:

get

heart:

flowers

heart:

from

heart:

time

heart:

to

heart:

time.

heart:

Invariably,

heart:

they

heart:

have

heart:

notes

heart:

attached

heart:

that

heart:

ask

heart:

me

heart:

for

heart:

sex.

heart:

I

heart:

like

heart:

the

heart:

flowers,

heart:

but

heart:

the

heart:

invitations

heart:

spoil

heart:

it.

heart:

There's

heart:

a

heart:

small

heart:

card

heart:

on

heart:

the

heart:

flowers,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

open

heart:

it. "You're

heart:

magnificent,"

heart:

the

heart:

note

heart:

says.

heart:

Nothing

heart:

else.

heart:

No

heart:

signature

heart:

and

heart:

no

heart:

proposition.

heart:

One

heart:

tear

heart:

tries

heart:

to

heart:

trickle

heart:

down

heart:

my

heart:

right

heart:

cheek,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

hurriedly

heart:

swipe

heart:

it

heart:

away

heart:

with

heart:

a

heart:

paw.

heart:

I

heart:

am

heart:

a

heart:

professional.

I

heart:

must

heart:

walk

heart:

a

heart:

thin

heart:

line

heart:

between

heart:

detachment

heart:

and

heart:

despair,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

cannot

heart:

afford

heart:

to

heart:

let

heart:

my

heart:

emotions

heart:

get

heart:

away

heart:

with

heart:

me

heart:

now.

heart:

I

heart:

nod at

heart:

Charlie,

heart:

about

heart:

the

heart:

vase,

heart:

and

heart:

hand

heart:

the

heart:

note

heart:

to

heart:

Louis.

"You

heart:

have

heart:

a

heart:

secret

heart:

admirer,"

heart:

he

heart:

says,

heart:

after

heart:

reading

heart:

the

heart:

note.

"So

heart:

it

heart:

seems,"

heart:

I

heart:

say, "which

heart:

means

heart:

that

heart:

he

heart:

must

heart:

be

heart:

butt-ugly."

"Or

heart:

married,"

heart:

Louis

heart:

chuckles.

On

heart:

the

heart:

way

heart:

out,

heart:

for

heart:

the

heart:

night,

heart:

Charlie

heart:

walks

heart:

with

heart:

me,

heart:

my

heart:

faithful

heart:

friend.

heart:

He's

heart:

pretty

heart:

mellow,

heart:

as

heart:

wolves

heart:

go,

heart:

and

heart:

straight,

heart:

which

heart:

is

heart:

a

heart:

shame,

heart:

as

heart:

he'd

heart:

make

heart:

someone

heart:

a

heart:

wonderful

heart:

wife.

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

flirt

heart:

with

heart:

Charlie,

heart:

because

heart:

I

heart:

know

heart:

he

heart:

won't

heart:

take

heart:

it

heart:

seriously.

heart:

He

heart:

runs

heart:

the

heart:

lighting

heart:

for

heart:

the

heart:

club,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

always

heart:

makes

heart:

me

heart:

look

heart:

my

heart:

best.

heart:

He

heart:

knows

heart:

which

heart:

shades

heart:

of

heart:

red

heart:

and

heart:

blue

heart:

make

heart:

me

heart:

look

heart:

beautiful,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

knows

heart:

timing

heart:

like

heart:

no

heart:

one

heart:

else.

heart:

I

heart:

wrap

heart:

my

heart:

arm

heart:

in

heart:

his,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

pats

heart:

it,

heart:

gently.

heart:

He

heart:

walks

heart:

me

heart:

home

heart:

some

heart:

nights.

heart:

He's

heart:

a

heart:

good

heart:

friend. "Who

heart:

do

heart:

you

heart:

think

heart:

sent

heart:

the

heart:

flowers?"

heart:

he

heart:

asks.

I

heart:

shrug. "Some

heart:

fat,

heart:

drunken

heart:

ocelot,

heart:

for

heart:

all

heart:

I

heart:

know

heart:

or

heart:

care. I'm

heart:

not

heart:

ready

heart:

to

heart:

jump back

heart:

into

heart:

the

heart:

game;

heart:

I've

heart:

been all

heart:

through

heart:

that,

heart:

and

heart:

I've

heart:

had

heart:

my

heart:

fill

heart:

of

heart:

that

heart:

kind

heart:

of

heart:

hurt."

"You

heart:

still

heart:

miss

heart:

him,

heart:

don't

heart:

you?"

heart:

My

heart:

hand

heart:

strays

heart:

up

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

glass

heart:

heart

heart:

I

heart:

wear,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

nod,

heart:

feeling

heart:

another

heart:

traitor

heart:

tear

heart:

threatening

heart:

to

heart:

form. "He

heart:

loved

heart:

to

heart:

watch

heart:

you

heart:

dance,

heart:

more

heart:

than

heart:

anything."

I

heart:

sigh,

heart:

softly. "Yes,

heart:

he

heart:

really

heart:

did.

heart:

But

heart:

he's

heart:

gone,

heart:

and

heart:

nothing's

heart:

going

heart:

to

heart:

bring

heart:

him

heart:

back."

There's

heart:

a

heart:

long

heart:

silence

heart:

between

heart:

us,

heart:

but

heart:

it

heart:

isn't

heart:

really

heart:

uncomfortable.

heart:

Charlie

heart:

is

heart:

someone

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

just

heart:

be

heart:

with;

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

feel

heart:

the

heart:

need

heart:

to

heart:

entertain

heart:

him.

heart:

A

heart:

silence,

heart:

with

heart:

him,

heart:

descends

heart:

when

heart:

there is

heart:

nothing

heart:

needing

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

said.

heart:

He

heart:

also

heart:

watches

heart:

me

heart:

dance

heart:

for

heart:

the

heart:

dancing,

heart:

which

heart:

only

heart:

one

heart:

other

heart:

person

heart:

ever

heart:

did.

He breaks

heart:

the

heart:

silence. "Its

heart:

been

heart:

a

heart:

long

heart:

time."

heart:

I

heart:

blink

heart:

at

heart:

him,

heart:

uncertain

heart:

exactly

heart:

what

heart:

he

heart:

means. "Since

heart:

Derek."

I

heart:

nod. "Three

heart:

years

heart:

last

heart:

month."

He

heart:

nods.

heart:

More

heart:

silence,

heart:

until

heart:

we

heart:

reach

heart:

the

heart:

stoop

heart:

of

heart:

my

heart:

apartment

heart:

building. "Whatever

heart:

happened

heart:

to

heart:

what's-his-name?

heart:

You

heart:

know,

heart:

that

heart:

cute

heart:

raccoon?"

"Carl?"

"Yeah,

heart:

him."

"We

heart:

broke

heart:

up.

heart:

He

heart:

didn't

heart:

like

heart:

it

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

refused

heart:

to

heart:

stop

heart:

dancing

heart:

for

heart:

him."

"Shit.

heart:

When

heart:

was

heart:

this?"

heart:

I

heart:

smirk

heart:

and

heart:

raise

heart:

an

heart:

eyebrow.

"Two

heart:

months

heart:

ago."

"No

heart:

shit!

heart:

Really?

heart:

That

heart:

long?"

I

heart:

nod. "That

heart:

long."

"And

heart:

there

heart:

hasn't

heart:

been

heart:

anyone

heart:

since?"

I

heart:

flash

heart:

him

heart:

a

heart:

smile. "I'm

heart:

saving

heart:

myself

heart:

for

heart:

when

heart:

you

heart:

go

heart:

gay."

He

heart:

grins. "Well,

heart:

then

heart:

I'd

heart:

better

heart:

hurry

heart:

up

heart:

and

heart:

do

heart:

it.

heart:

You're

heart:

too

heart:

good

heart:

to

heart:

waste."

"You're

heart:

going

heart:

fag

heart:

tonight

heart:

then,

heart:

are

heart:

you?"

He

heart:

laughs. "Only

heart:

for

heart:

you,

heart:

sexy

heart:

boy.

heart:

Quick!

heart:

Invite

heart:

me

heart:

upstairs

heart:

before

heart:

I

heart:

change

heart:

my

heart:

mind."

I

heart:

smile. "Want to

heart:

come

heart:

upstairs,

heart:

Charlie?"

He

heart:

laughs,

heart:

then

heart:

realizes

heart:

I'm

heart:

not

heart:

laughing. "If

heart:

I

heart:

were

heart:

gay,

heart:

I'd

heart:

go

heart:

with

heart:

you

heart:

in

heart:

a

heart:

heartbeat.

heart:

I

heart:

love

heart:

you,

heart:

kid.

heart:

But

heart:

you

heart:

need

heart:

someone

heart:

a

heart:

little

heart:

more

heart:

interested

heart:

in

heart:

your

heart:

body

heart:

than

heart:

me."

heart:

He

heart:

hugs

heart:

me,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

hug

heart:

back,

heart:

feeling

heart:

no

heart:

pain.

heart:

I

heart:

might

heart:

be

heart:

serious

heart:

about

heart:

my

heart:

invite;

heart:

I

heart:

might

heart:

not

heart:

be.

"You're

heart:

the

heart:

best,

heart:

Charlie,"

heart:

I

heart:

whisper.

heart:

I

heart:

kiss

heart:

his

heart:

cheek

heart:

and

heart:

head

heart:

upstairs,

heart:

into

heart:

my

heart:

apartment.

One

heart:

bath

heart:

and

heart:

a

heart:

cup

heart:

of

heart:

hot

heart:

cocoa

heart:

with

heart:

peppermint

heart:

schnapps

heart:

later,

heart:

I'm

heart:

going

heart:

over

heart:

my

heart:

photo

heart:

album,

heart:

looking

heart:

at

heart:

pictures

heart:

of

heart:

Derek.

heart:

He

heart:

was

heart:

wonderfully

heart:

alive

heart:

and

heart:

so

heart:

fantastically

heart:

glad

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

so

heart:

that

heart:

it

heart:

made

heart:

me

heart:

feel

heart:

alive.

heart:

Derek

heart:

was

heart:

the

heart:

one

heart:

who

heart:

had

heart:

encouraged

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

dance,

heart:

and

heart:

the

heart:

one

heart:

who

heart:

made

heart:

me

heart:

feel

heart:

loved,

heart:

safe,

heart:

and

heart:

sexy.

heart:

I had

heart:

happily

heart:

given

heart:

him

heart:

my

heart:

virginity,

heart:

and

heart:

he'd

heart:

always

heart:

been

heart:

the

heart:

best

heart:

of

heart:

lovers,

heart:

caring,

heart:

careful,

heart:

compassionate,

heart:

and

heart:

as

heart:

gentle

heart:

as

heart:

a

heart:

soft

heart:

summer

heart:

rain.

heart:

And,

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

end,

heart:

it

heart:

hadn't

heart:

been

heart:

AIDS

heart:

or

heart:

gay-bashers

heart:

that

heart:

had

heart:

killed

heart:

him,

heart:

but

heart:

a

heart:

simple

heart:

accident

heart:

with

heart:

a

heart:

hit-and-run

heart:

driver.

heart:

I

heart:

trace

heart:

my

heart:

fingers

heart:

over

heart:

the

heart:

photo

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

two

heart:

of

heart:

us

heart:

at

heart:

the

heart:

beach,

heart:

our

heart:

first

heart:

summer

heart:

together.

heart:

I'm eighteen

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

photo,

heart:

and

heart:

Derek

heart:

is

heart:

twenty.

heart:

His

heart:

right

heart:

ear

heart:

is

heart:

perked,

heart:

while

heart:

the

heart:

left

heart:

one

heart:

hangs

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

lazy

heart:

way

heart:

I

heart:

loved

heart:

so

heart:

well.

heart:

I

heart:

trace

heart:

his

heart:

handsome

heart:

husky

heart:

markings,

heart:

remembering

heart:

nights

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

sand

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

beach,

heart:

making

heart:

gentle

heart:

love

heart:

under

heart:

the

heart:

stars.

heart:

A

heart:

droplet

heart:

of

heart:

water

heart:

hits

heart:

the

heart:

surface of

heart:

the

heart:

photo,

heart:

and

heart:

I am

heart:

surprised

heart:

to

heart:

realize

heart:

that

heart:

a

heart:

third

heart:

tear

heart:

has

heart:

managed

heart:

to

heart:

escape

heart:

me

heart:

tonight.

I

heart:

clench

heart:

my

heart:

eyes

heart:

tightly

heart:

closed,

heart:

forcing

heart:

my

heart:

emotions

heart:

back

heart:

into

heart:

their

heart:

bottle. I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

know

heart:

why

heart:

the

heart:

flowers

heart:

have

heart:

hit

heart:

me

heart:

so

heart:

hard

heart:

tonight,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

am

heart:

not

heart:

going

heart:

to

heart:

lose

heart:

a

heart:

battle

heart:

I

heart:

have

heart:

fought

heart:

for

heart:

three

heart:

years.

heart:

I

heart:

go

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

bathroom,

heart:

splash

heart:

water

heart:

on

heart:

my

heart:

face,

heart:

and

heart:

walk

heart:

towards

heart:

my

heart:

bedroom.

On

heart:

the

heart:

way,

heart:

I

heart:

pass

heart:

the

heart:

ballet

heart:

slippers,

heart:

hanging

heart:

from

heart:

a

heart:

nail

heart:

on

heart:

the

heart:

wall,

heart:

tied

heart:

there

heart:

by

heart:

their

heart:

laces.

heart:

I

heart:

caress

heart:

them,

heart:

fondly,

heart:

and

heart:

slowly

heart:

unravel

heart:

the

heart:

knot

heart:

that

heart:

holds

heart:

them

heart:

in

heart:

place.

heart:

These

heart:

slippers

heart:

are

heart:

the

heart:

nice,

heart:

professional

heart:

ones

heart:

that

heart:

my

heart:

father

heart:

bought

heart:

me

heart:

for

heart:

my

heart:

first

heart:

big

heart:

high

heart:

school

heart:

recital.

heart:

Magic

heart:

slippers,

heart:

he

heart:

told

heart:

me,

heart:

that

heart:

would

heart:

make

heart:

sure

heart:

I

heart:

didn't

heart:

miss

heart:

any

heart:

steps.

heart:

They

heart:

cost

heart:

him

heart:

a

heart:

good

heart:

chunk

heart:

of

heart:

money,

heart:

but

heart:

he

heart:

always

heart:

told

heart:

me

heart:

the

heart:

smile

heart:

on

heart:

my

heart:

face

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

saw

heart:

them

heart:

was

heart:

more

heart:

than

heart:

repayment

heart:

enough.

heart:

That

heart:

smile

heart:

lasted

heart:

all

heart:

through

heart:

the

heart:

recital

heart:

and

heart:

for

heart:

days

heart:

afterwards.

heart:

I

heart:

lost

heart:

that

heart:

smile

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

had

heart:

to

heart:

leave

heart:

home

heart:

after

heart:

my

heart:

father

heart:

found

heart:

out

heart:

I

heart:

was

heart:

gay,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

kept

heart:

the

heart:

shoes.

heart:

Derek

heart:

gave

heart:

me

heart:

back

heart:

that

heart:

smile,

heart:

years

heart:

later,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

lost

heart:

it

heart:

again

heart:

when

heart:

he

heart:

died.

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

know

heart:

if

heart:

I will

heart:

ever

heart:

find

heart:

it

heart:

again.

I

heart:

think

heart:

back

heart:

on

heart:

my

heart:

father,

heart:

as

heart:

I

heart:

carry

heart:

the

heart:

shoes

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

chair

heart:

by

heart:

the

heart:

table.

heart:

I

heart:

haven't

heart:

seen

heart:

him

heart:

in

heart:

six

heart:

years,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

wonder

heart:

if

heart:

he is

heart:

still

heart:

alive.

heart:

I

heart:

hope

heart:

to

heart:

God

heart:

he

heart:

never

heart:

sees

heart:

what

heart:

those

heart:

ballet

heart:

lessons

heart:

he

heart:

paid

heart:

for

heart:

have

heart:

come

heart:

to;

heart:

I

heart:

think

heart:

it

heart:

would

heart:

kill

heart:

him.

heart:

I

heart:

hated

heart:

my

heart:

father

heart:

for

heart:

throwing

heart:

me

heart:

out

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

house,

heart:

years

heart:

ago,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

can't

heart:

hate

heart:

him

heart:

any more.

heart:

If

heart:

he

heart:

hadn't,

heart:

I

heart:

never

heart:

would've

heart:

met

heart:

Derek.

heart:

I

heart:

was

heart:

starving,

heart:

scared,

heart:

and

heart:

homeless,

heart:

but

heart:

he

heart:

took

heart:

me

heart:

in

heart:

and

heart:

saw

heart:

something

heart:

deep

heart:

inside

heart:

me. "Home

heart:

is

heart:

where

heart:

the

heart:

heart

heart:

is,"

heart:

Derek

heart:

told

heart:

me

heart:

one

heart:

night,

heart:

holding

heart:

me

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

woke

heart:

up

heart:

crying

heart:

and

heart:

homesick.

heart:

My

heart:

heart

heart:

is

heart:

still

heart:

with

heart:

Derek,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

cannot

heart:

go

heart:

home

heart:

again.

heart:

I

heart:

try

heart:

the

heart:

shoes

heart:

on,

heart:

and

heart:

I am

heart:

surprised

heart:

to

heart:

find

heart:

that they

heart:

still

heart:

fit.

heart:

I

heart:

stand

heart:

and

heart:

touch

heart:

Derek's

heart:

photo

heart:

one

heart:

last

heart:

time.

heart:

I

heart:

click

heart:

the

heart:

heels

heart:

of

heart:

my

heart:

magic

heart:

slippers

heart:

together,

heart:

three

heart:

times,

heart:

and

heart:

whisper, "There's

heart:

no

heart:

place

heart:

like

heart:

home."

heart:

I

heart:

shut

heart:

the

heart:

lights,

heart:

walk

heart:

to

heart:

my

heart:

bedroom,

heart:

and

heart:

lie

heart:

down,

heart:

the

heart:

slippers

heart:

still

heart:

snug

heart:

on

heart:

my

heart:

paws.

heart:

This

heart:

time,

heart:

when

heart:

the

heart:

tears

heart:

come,

heart:

they are a

heart:

flood,

heart:

and I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

try

heart:

to

heart:

stop

heart:

them.

The

heart:

next

heart:

night,

heart:

I

heart:

dance

heart:

again,

heart:

and

heart:

my

heart:

heart

heart:

has

heart:

been

heart:

carefully

heart:

emptied

heart:

of

heart:

tears

heart:

where

heart:

no

heart:

one

heart:

else

heart:

can

heart:

see.

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

feel

heart:

it

heart:

rising

heart:

off

heart:

of

heart:

my

heart:

chestfur,

heart:

then

heart:

falling

heart:

back

heart:

to

heart:

it,

heart:

rhythmically

heart:

slapping

heart:

around

heart:

as

heart:

I

heart:

dance.

heart:

I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

miss

heart:

a

heart:

step,

heart:

but

heart:

my

heart:

heart

heart:

and

heart:

mind

heart:

are

heart:

still

heart:

with

heart:

Derek,

heart:

remembering

heart:

the

heart:

shine

heart:

in

heart:

his

heart:

eyes

heart:

when

heart:

he

heart:

gave

heart:

me

heart:

the

heart:

heart,

heart:

asking

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

stay

heart:

with

heart:

him

heart:

forever.

heart:

I

heart:

remember

heart:

his

heart:

eyes

heart:

being

heart:

as

heart:

clear

heart:

as

heart:

the

heart:

glass

heart:

heart

heart:

he

heart:

gave

heart:

me,

heart:

that

heart:

he

heart:

put

heart:

around

heart:

my

heart:

neck

heart:

himself.

heart:

I

heart:

remember

heart:

how

heart:

he

heart:

watched

heart:

me

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

danced,

heart:

not

heart:

lusting

heart:

for

heart:

me,

heart:

but

heart:

just

heart:

loving

heart:

me.

heart:

I

heart:

struggle

heart:

to

heart:

keep

heart:

my

heart:

heart

heart:

empty,

heart:

but

heart:

Derek

heart:

keeps

heart:

slipping

heart:

into

heart:

it,

heart:

making

heart:

me

heart:

ache

heart:

inside.

heart:

But

heart:

I am

heart:

a

heart:

professional,

heart:

and

heart:

when

heart:

I

heart:

dance,

heart:

I

heart:

keep

heart:

my

heart:

feet

heart:

light.

heart:

I

heart:

dance

heart:

for

heart:

Derek,

heart:

even

heart:

as

heart:

the

heart:

pain

heart:

of

heart:

him

heart:

slashes

heart:

at

heart:

my

heart:

soul.

I

heart:

leave

heart:

the

heart:

stage

heart:

when

heart:

the

heart:

lights

heart:

release

heart:

me,

heart:

and

heart:

this

heart:

time

heart:

I

heart:

pull

heart:

my

heart:

wrist

heart:

out

heart:

of

heart:

Louis'

heart:

grasp

heart:

before

heart:

he

heart:

can

heart:

tighten

heart:

it.

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

see

heart:

anyone

heart:

tonight,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

applauded.

heart:

I

heart:

just

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

left

heart:

alone.

heart:

Louis

heart:

comes

heart:

back

heart:

to

heart:

my

heart:

dressing

heart:

room,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

talks

heart:

at

heart:

me.

heart:

I'm

heart:

not

heart:

hearing

heart:

his

heart:

words,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

tell

heart:

he's

heart:

upset.

heart:

I

heart:

stare

heart:

numbly

heart:

at

heart:

the

heart:

stranger

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

mirror,

heart:

wishing

heart:

Louis

heart:

would

heart:

just

heart:

stop

heart:

talking

heart:

and

heart:

go

heart:

away.

heart:

Suddenly

heart:

his

heart:

hand

heart:

touches

heart:

my

heart:

shoulder. "You

heart:

okay?"

heart:

he asks. "You

heart:

look

heart:

sort of

heart:

sick..."

I

heart:

reach

heart:

up

heart:

and

heart:

pat

heart:

his

heart:

hand. "I'm

heart:

okay,"

heart:

I

heart:

tell

heart:

him. "I

heart:

just

heart:

had

heart:

a

heart:

bad

heart:

night

heart:

last

heart:

night

heart:

is

heart:

all."

"A

heart:

bad...?"

heart:

he

heart:

begins,

heart:

but

heart:

Charlie's

heart:

knock

heart:

stops

heart:

him.

"More

heart:

flowers,"

heart:

he

heart:

says, "but

heart:

this

heart:

time,

heart:

there

heart:

was

heart:

someone

heart:

attached

heart:

to

heart:

them.

heart:

He

heart:

asked

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

give

heart:

them

heart:

to

heart:

you,

heart:

but

heart:

he

heart:

wouldn't

heart:

give

heart:

his

heart:

name."

I

heart:

turned

heart:

to

heart:

look

heart:

at

heart:

Charlie's

heart:

face,

heart:

and

heart:

my

heart:

mask

heart:

goes

heart:

up. "Was

heart:

he cute?"

He

heart:

grins. "Not

heart:

like

heart:

you."

"Flatterer.

heart:

What

heart:

did

heart:

he

heart:

look

heart:

like?"

Charlie

heart:

hands

heart:

me

heart:

the

heart:

flowers

heart:

and

heart:

sketches

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

air

heart:

with

heart:

his

heart:

hands. "About

heart:

this

heart:

tall,"

heart:

he

heart:

says,

heart:

making

heart:

a motion

heart:

about

heart:

six

heart:

feet

heart:

off

heart:

the

heart:

floor, "and

heart:

about

heart:

this

heart:

wide."

heart:

He

heart:

mimes

heart:

the

heart:

proportions

heart:

of

heart:

a

heart:

broad-shouldered

heart:

man

heart:

with

heart:

a

heart:

fairly

heart:

overweight

heart:

or

heart:

solid

heart:

build.

heart:

I

heart:

watch

heart:

him,

heart:

filling

heart:

my

heart:

nose

heart:

with

heart:

the

heart:

smell

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

flowers. "He

heart:

looked

heart:

like

heart:

he

heart:

was

heart:

in

heart:

his

heart:

forties.

heart:

Some

heart:

kind

heart:

of

heart:

boxer or

heart:

bulldog.

heart:

No

heart:

wedding

heart:

ring."

heart:

I

heart:

smile.

heart:

Nice of

heart:

Charlie

heart:

to

heart:

check. "Dark

heart:

eyes.

heart:

Pretty

heart:

good-looking.

heart:

Smells

heart:

like

heart:

money,

heart:

too;

heart:

tipped

heart:

me a

heart:

hundred-dollar

heart:

bill

heart:

to

heart:

make

heart:

sure

heart:

you

heart:

got

heart:

the

heart:

flowers

heart:

personally."

I

heart:

pluck

heart:

off

heart:

the

heart:

little

heart:

envelope

heart:

and

heart:

put

heart:

the

heart:

flowers

heart:

with

heart:

the

heart:

others

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

same

heart:

vase. "Did

heart:

he

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

meet

heart:

me?"

Charlie

heart:

shakes

heart:

his

heart:

head. "No,

heart:

but

heart:

he

heart:

asked

heart:

if

heart:

you'd

heart:

be

heart:

dancing

heart:

again

heart:

tomorrow

heart:

night."

I

heart:

pull

heart:

out

heart:

the

heart:

card. "You

heart:

were

heart:

even

heart:

more

heart:

magnificent

heart:

tonight.

heart:

Will

heart:

you

heart:

dance

heart:

for

heart:

me

heart:

tomorrow?"

Charlie

heart:

walks

heart:

me

heart:

home

heart:

again. "Are

heart:

you

heart:

going

heart:

to

heart:

meet

heart:

this

heart:

guy?"

I

heart:

shrug. "I

heart:

don't

heart:

know.

heart:

I

heart:

suppose

heart:

that's

heart:

up

heart:

to

heart:

him."

"No,

heart:

no.

heart:

I

heart:

mean,

heart:

if

heart:

he

heart:

asks

heart:

you

heart:

out,

heart:

will

heart:

you

heart:

go

heart:

with

heart:

him?"

"Don't

heart:

know.

heart:

Maybe."

Charlie

heart:

nods,

heart:

and

heart:

we

heart:

walk

heart:

silently

heart:

together.

heart:

A

heart:

block

heart:

before

heart:

my

heart:

house

heart:

he

heart:

says, "I

heart:

think

heart:

you

heart:

should."

heart:

I arch

heart:

an

heart:

eyebrow

heart:

at him. "I

heart:

worry

heart:

about

heart:

you,

heart:

kiddo.

heart:

You've

heart:

been

heart:

alone

heart:

too

heart:

long,

heart:

and

heart:

a

heart:

guy

heart:

as

heart:

sweet

heart:

as

heart:

you

heart:

deserves

heart:

someone

heart:

nice

heart:

to

heart:

take

heart:

care

heart:

of

heart:

him.

heart:

Maybe

heart:

this

heart:

guy

heart:

could

heart:

be

heart:

the

heart:

one

heart:

for

heart:

you?"

I

heart:

stop

heart:

and

heart:

shake

heart:

my

heart:

head. "Derek

heart:

was the one for me, Charlie. I'm not ever

heart:

going

heart:

to

heart:

love

heart:

anyone

heart:

like

heart:

that

heart:

again.

heart:

I

heart:

know,

heart:

I

heart:

know,"

heart:

I

heart:

say,

heart:

forestalling

heart:

him

heart:

as

heart:

he

heart:

begins

heart:

to

heart:

protest. "Derek

heart:

wouldn't

heart:

want

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

alone,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

would

heart:

want

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

happy.

heart:

But

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

really

heart:

want

heart:

anyone

heart:

else.

heart:

Sure,

heart:

I'll

heart:

get

heart:

laid

heart:

from

heart:

time

heart:

to

heart:

time,

heart:

because

heart:

my

heart:

body

heart:

needs

heart:

it,

heart:

but

heart:

love?

heart:

No,

heart:

I

heart:

think

heart:

I'm

heart:

done

heart:

with

heart:

love."

He

heart:

takes

heart:

my

heart:

hand

heart:

and

heart:

squeezes

heart:

it. "Hey,

heart:

I

heart:

still

heart:

love

heart:

you,

heart:

kid."

I

heart:

smile. "I

heart:

love

heart:

you,

heart:

too,

heart:

Charlie,

heart:

but

heart:

you

heart:

know

heart:

what

heart:

I

heart:

mean."

heart:

I

heart:

release

heart:

his

heart:

hand,

heart:

gently

heart:

withdrawing

heart:

my

heart:

paw. "I'll

heart:

be

heart:

with

heart:

Derek

heart:

again,

heart:

someday.

heart:

Til

heart:

then,

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

wait."

We

heart:

walk

heart:

along,

heart:

but

heart:

we

heart:

don't

heart:

stop

heart:

at

heart:

my

heart:

place.

heart:

We

heart:

just

heart:

keep

heart:

going. "Do

heart:

you

heart:

have

heart:

any

heart:

dreams,

heart:

Charlie?"

heart:

I

heart:

ask,

heart:

at

heart:

last.

"Course

heart:

I

heart:

do.

heart:

I

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

find

heart:

a

heart:

nice

heart:

girl,

heart:

marry,

heart:

have

heart:

kids,

heart:

become

heart:

filthy

heart:

rich,

heart:

and

heart:

buy

heart:

a

heart:

small

heart:

Caribbean

heart:

island

heart:

to

heart:

settle

heart:

down

heart:

on."

I

heart:

giggle. "You'd

heart:

be

heart:

a

heart:

great

heart:

Mom."

He

heart:

smiles,

heart:

getting

heart:

a

heart:

faraway

heart:

look

heart:

in

heart:

his

heart:

eyes. "Yeah,

heart:

I

heart:

love

heart:

kids,

heart:

and..."

heart:

He

heart:

eyes

heart:

me. "Waitasec.

heart:

What

heart:

did

heart:

you

heart:

mean

heart:

by

heart:

that?"

I

heart:

giggle

heart:

again. "Nothing."

"I

heart:

am

heart:

not

heart:

being

heart:

motherly

heart:

at

heart:

you.

heart:

I'm

heart:

just

heart:

a

heart:

concerned

heart:

friend."

"Sure.

heart:

I

heart:

know."

heart:

I

heart:

give

heart:

him

heart:

a

heart:

hug.

We

heart:

walk

heart:

another

heart:

block

heart:

before

heart:

he

heart:

asks, "What

heart:

about

heart:

you?"

"As

heart:

a

heart:

Mom?"

"No,

heart:

goof.

heart:

Dreams."

I

heart:

nod. "I'd

heart:

like

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

Nijinsky."

"Who?"

"He

heart:

was

heart:

a

heart:

ballet

heart:

dancer.

heart:

Russian,

heart:

I

heart:

think.

heart:

He

heart:

was

heart:

world-famous,

heart:

at

heart:

one

heart:

point.

heart:

Gay,

heart:

too,

heart:

I

heart:

believe.

heart:

But

heart:

they

heart:

say

heart:

that

heart:

when

heart:

he

heart:

danced,

heart:

he

heart:

could

heart:

fly."

He

heart:

smiles. "So

heart:

do

heart:

you."

I

heart:

shake

heart:

my

heart:

head. "Not

heart:

like

heart:

him."

heart:

I

heart:

close

heart:

my

heart:

eyes,

heart:

my

heart:

arm

heart:

linked in

heart:

his,

heart:

as

heart:

if

heart:

we

heart:

were

heart:

an

heart:

old

heart:

couple. "I

heart:

want

heart:

to

heart:

fly.

heart:

But

heart:

every

heart:

time

heart:

I

heart:

get

heart:

close,

heart:

something

heart:

happens."

heart:

We

heart:

walk

heart:

a

heart:

few

heart:

steps

heart:

in

heart:

silence. "Do

heart:

you

heart:

ever

heart:

dream

heart:

of

heart:

flying?"

He

heart:

nods. "At

heart:

night,

heart:

sometimes.

heart:

But

heart:

I

heart:

always

heart:

end

heart:

up

heart:

falling,

heart:

and

heart:

it

heart:

wakes

heart:

me

heart:

up."

"Sometimes,"

heart:

I

heart:

whisper, "I

heart:

think

heart:

that

heart:

the

heart:

only

heart:

way

heart:

to

heart:

fly

heart:

is

heart:

to

heart:

fall.

heart:

Like

heart:

Icarus.

heart:

Into

heart:

the

heart:

sea."

The

heart:

next

heart:

night,

heart:

I

heart:

walk

heart:

through

heart:

the

heart:

audience

heart:

before

heart:

the

heart:

show,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

see

heart:

anyone

heart:

matching

heart:

Charlie's

heart:

description. "Cold

heart:

feet?"

heart:

I

heart:

ask

heart:

the

heart:

air,

heart:

sighing

heart:

silently,

heart:

and

heart:

walk

heart:

backstage.

I

heart:

rarely

heart:

watch

heart:

the

heart:

other

heart:

dancers,

heart:

but,

heart:

tonight,

heart:

I

heart:

do.

heart:

They

heart:

make

heart:

me

heart:

cringe

heart:

with

heart:

their

heart:

crude

heart:

motions

heart:

and

heart:

obvious

heart:

sexual

heart:

plays

heart:

on

heart:

the

heart:

crowd.

heart:

Tonight,

heart:

many

heart:

of

heart:

them

heart:

will

heart:

go

heart:

home

heart:

with

heart:

patrons

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

club,

heart:

accept

heart:

some

heart:

money, ("a

heart:

gift,

heart:

not

heart:

a

heart:

fee,

heart:

of

heart:

course,")

heart:

and

heart:

slink

heart:

home

heart:

in

heart:

the

heart:

predawn,

heart:

with

heart:

no

heart:

qualms.

heart:

I

heart:

can't

heart:

do

heart:

that.

heart:

I

heart:

have

heart:

too

heart:

much

heart:

pride,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

love

heart:

Derek

heart:

too much.

I

heart:

dance

heart:

without

heart:

any

heart:

difficulty,

heart:

but

heart:

also

heart:

without

heart:

real

heart:

passion.

heart:

I am

heart:

just

heart:

dancing,

heart:

for

heart:

myself,

heart:

and

heart:

for

heart:

Derek,

heart:

as

heart:

always.

heart:

I

heart:

notice

heart:

a

heart:

bulldog

heart:

watching

heart:

me,

heart:

smiling,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

guess

heart:

that

heart:

its

heart:

the

heart:

one

heart:

Charlie

heart:

mentioned.

heart:

He's

heart:

handsome,

heart:

and

heart:

very

heart:

well-dressed.

heart:

I

heart:

flash

heart:

him

heart:

a

heart:

smile,

heart:

which

heart:

he

heart:

returns.

heart:

Maybe,

heart:

I

heart:

think

heart:

to

heart:

myself,

heart:

I

heart:

owe

heart:

myself

heart:

a

heart:

night

heart:

out.

Later,

heart:

after

heart:

my

heart:

song

heart:

has

heart:

died

heart:

away

heart:

and

heart:

the

heart:

club has

heart:

closed,

heart:

I

heart:

walk

heart:

out

heart:

the

heart:

staff

heart:

entrance

heart:

with

heart:

Charlie.

heart:

The

heart:

bulldog

heart:

is

heart:

there,

heart:

waiting

heart:

with

heart:

an

heart:

armful

heart:

of

heart:

flowers. "Excuse

heart:

me,"

heart:

he

heart:

says,

heart:

in

heart:

a

heart:

deep

heart:

voice. "I

heart:

hope

heart:

I am

heart:

not

heart:

presuming,

heart:

but

heart:

I'd

heart:

like

heart:

to

heart:

invite

heart:

you

heart:

to

heart:

dinner."

heart:

Charlie

heart:

looks

heart:

at

heart:

me,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

nod,

heart:

as

heart:

much

heart:

to

heart:

him

heart:

as

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

bulldog.

heart:

He

heart:

offers

heart:

me

heart:

his

heart:

arm,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

take

heart:

it,

heart:

not

heart:

entirely

heart:

sure

heart:

where

heart:

the

heart:

evening

heart:

will

heart:

go.

heart:

Charlie

heart:

waves me

heart:

goodbye as I am led

heart:

away,

heart:

towards

heart:

a

heart:

real

heart:

honest-to-goodness

heart:

limousine.

heart:

The

heart:

bulldog

heart:

helps

heart:

me

heart:

inside

heart:

and

heart:

gets

heart:

in

heart:

next

heart:

to

heart:

me.

heart:

He

heart:

says

heart:

the

heart:

name

heart:

of

heart:

a

heart:

fancy

heart:

hotel

heart:

to

heart:

his

heart:

driver,

heart:

and

heart:

we

heart:

speed

heart:

away.

"Champagne?"

"I...certainly."

He

heart:

pours

heart:

us each a

heart:

glass,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

sip

heart:

mine,

heart:

watching

heart:

the night-dark

heart:

city slip

heart:

by

heart:

behind

heart:

tinted

heart:

windows. "I

heart:

have

heart:

to

heart:

admit,

heart:

Mr...um..."

"Please,"

heart:

he

heart:

says, "call

heart:

me

heart:

Tyrone."

"Okay,

heart:

Tyrone.

heart:

I

heart:

have

heart:

to

heart:

admit

heart:

I'm

heart:

not

heart:

sure

heart:

why

heart:

I

heart:

decided

heart:

to

heart:

come

heart:

with

heart:

you

heart:

tonight.

heart:

I

heart:

can't

heart:

promise

heart:

you

heart:

I'll

heart:

be

heart:

willing

heart:

to

heart:

do

heart:

anything

heart:

after

heart:

dinner."

He

heart:

shrugs. "That

heart:

is

heart:

inconsequential.

heart:

I

heart:

admire

heart:

your

heart:

dancing

heart:

and

heart:

desired

heart:

the

heart:

pleasure

heart:

of

heart:

your

heart:

company.

heart:

Whatever

heart:

else

heart:

will

heart:

happen,

heart:

will

heart:

happen.

heart:

I

heart:

do

heart:

find

heart:

you

heart:

very

heart:

attractive."

"Thank

heart:

you."

"But

heart:

I

heart:

did

heart:

not

heart:

ask

heart:

you

heart:

to

heart:

dinner

heart:

because

heart:

you are

heart:

attractive.

heart:

I

heart:

asked

heart:

you

heart:

out

heart:

because

heart:

you're

heart:

one

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

most

heart:

amazing

heart:

dancers

heart:

I've

heart:

ever

heart:

seen."

"Again,

heart:

thank

heart:

you,

heart:

but

heart:

you'll

heart:

forgive

heart:

me

heart:

if

heart:

I

heart:

find

heart:

it

heart:

hard

heart:

to

heart:

believe

heart:

that

heart:

you

heart:

asked

heart:

me

heart:

out

heart:

just

heart:

to talk."

He

heart:

smiles. "Well,

heart:

I'll

heart:

admit

heart:

that

heart:

I

heart:

wouldn't

heart:

mind

heart:

if

heart:

this

heart:

evening

heart:

ended

heart:

with

heart:

us

heart:

in

heart:

bed,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

won't

heart:

beg."

I

heart:

chuckle.

heart:

He's

heart:

funny.

heart:

I

heart:

like

heart:

him. "Is

heart:

the

heart:

food

heart:

good

heart:

at

heart:

your

heart:

hotel?"

He

heart:

nods. "Its

heart:

five

heart:

stars at the

heart:

hotel

heart:

restaurant."

"Could

heart:

we

heart:

take

heart:

dinner

heart:

in

heart:

your

heart:

room

heart:

instead?"

He

heart:

looks

heart:

at

heart:

me,

heart:

a

heart:

slightly

heart:

bemused

heart:

smile

heart:

on

heart:

his

heart:

lips. "I

heart:

thought

heart:

you

heart:

weren't

heart:

going

heart:

to

heart:

guarantee

heart:

anything."

"I'm

heart:

not,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

really

heart:

enjoy

heart:

eating

heart:

in

heart:

restaurants

heart:

all

heart:

that

heart:

much."

We

heart:

take

heart:

the

heart:

elevator

heart:

to

heart:

his

heart:

hotel

heart:

room,

heart:

which

heart:

turns

heart:

out

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

a

heart:

penthouse

heart:

suite.

heart:

We

heart:

order

heart:

food

heart:

up,

heart:

and,

heart:

over

heart:

lobster

heart:

thermidor,

heart:

brandied

heart:

truffles,

heart:

delicately

heart:

creamed

heart:

white

heart:

asparagus,

heart:

and

heart:

more

heart:

champagne,

heart:

we

heart:

chat

heart:

amiably,

heart:

as

heart:

if

heart:

we

heart:

were

heart:

old

heart:

friends.

heart:

All

heart:

through

heart:

dinner,

heart:

I

heart:

study

heart:

him;

heart:

he

heart:

is

heart:

attractive,

heart:

if

heart:

a

heart:

bit

heart:

older

heart:

than

heart:

I am

heart:

used

heart:

to

heart:

in

heart:

a

heart:

dinner

heart:

companion.

heart:

He

heart:

has

heart:

an

heart:

air

heart:

of

heart:

cultivated

heart:

elegance, and

heart:

I

heart:

feel

heart:

a

heart:

tiny

heart:

bit

heart:

tawdry

heart:

in

heart:

these

heart:

luxurious

heart:

rooms.

heart:

He

heart:

asks

heart:

many

heart:

questions.

"Is

heart:

Sylvan your

heart:

given name?"

"Yes, though I'm

heart:

the

heart:

one who

heart:

gave

heart:

it

heart:

to

heart:

me."

He

heart:

laughs

heart:

at

heart:

this. "What's

heart:

your

heart:

real

heart:

name?"

"Does it

heart:

matter?"

"I

heart:

suppose

heart:

not.

heart:

Do

heart:

you

heart:

like

heart:

dancing

heart:

at

heart:

the

heart:

club?"

"I

heart:

love

heart:

to

heart:

dance.

heart:

Period.

heart:

The

heart:

club

heart:

pays

heart:

well

heart:

enough."

"Are

heart:

you

heart:

gay?"

"Do

heart:

you

heart:

really

heart:

have

heart:

to

heart:

ask?"

"Just

heart:

curious.

heart:

Setting

heart:

things

heart:

straight,

heart:

as

heart:

it

heart:

were.

heart:

Do

heart:

you

heart:

have

heart:

a

heart:

boyfriend?"

"I...

heart:

Yes.

heart:

Well,

heart:

no,

heart:

actually.

heart:

He

heart:

passed

heart:

away."

"Oh,

heart:

I'm

heart:

sorry."

"Yeah?

heart:

Well,

heart:

so

heart:

was

heart:

I."

heart:

An

heart:

uncomfortable

heart:

silence

heart:

descends.

heart:

Silences,

heart:

with

heart:

him,

heart:

are

heart:

not

heart:

like

heart:

the

heart:

ones

heart:

with

heart:

Charlie.

heart:

They are

heart:

brooding,

heart:

unhappy

heart:

gaps

heart:

when

heart:

he

heart:

cannot

heart:

think

heart:

of

heart:

what

heart:

to

heart:

say.

heart:

Finally,

heart:

he

heart:

gets

heart:

his

heart:

questions

heart:

going

heart:

again.

"How

heart:

did

heart:

he

heart:

die?"

"Hit

heart:

and

heart:

run."

"That's

heart:

really

heart:

terrible.

heart:

I'm

heart:

very,

heart:

very

heart:

sorry."

"Why,

heart:

were

heart:

you

heart:

the

heart:

driver?"

heart:

My

heart:

voice

heart:

is

heart:

much,

heart:

much

heart:

more

heart:

bitter

heart:

than

heart:

I

heart:

intend it

heart:

to

heart:

be.

heart:

Another

heart:

silence

heart:

descends. "I'm

heart:

sorry,"

heart:

I

heart:

finally

heart:

say.

"Don't

heart:

be,"

heart:

he

heart:

says

heart:

softly,

heart:

kindly. "What

heart:

was

heart:

his

heart:

name?"

"Derek,"

heart:

I

heart:

half-whisper.

heart:

All

heart:

my

heart:

masks

heart:

are

heart:

slipping

heart:

away.

heart:

My

heart:

dancing

heart:

tonight,

heart:

my

heart:

flying,

heart:

has

heart:

put

heart:

chinks

heart:

in

heart:

my

heart:

armor,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

doubt

heart:

my

heart:

own

heart:

ability

heart:

to

heart:

be

heart:

strong.

"You

heart:

loved

heart:

him

heart:

very

heart:

much."

heart:

Its

heart:

not

heart:

a

heart:

question,

heart:

but

heart:

I nod,

heart:

anyway.

heart:

He

heart:

stands,

heart:

walks

heart:

behind

heart:

me

heart:

as

heart:

I

heart:

bury

heart:

my

heart:

face

heart:

in

heart:

my

heart:

hands,

heart:

and

heart:

his

heart:

paws

heart:

gently

heart:

come

heart:

to

heart:

rest

heart:

on

heart:

my

heart:

shoulders. "You're

heart:

very

heart:

beautiful,

heart:

and

heart:

you

heart:

don't

heart:

deserve

heart:

to

heart:

feel

heart:

this

heart:

much

heart:

pain."

I

heart:

shiver,

heart:

turn,

heart:

and

heart:

look

heart:

up

heart:

into

heart:

his

heart:

eyes.

heart:

There

heart:

I

heart:

see...nothing;

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

mean

heart:

anything

heart:

to

heart:

him.

heart:

I'm

heart:

just

heart:

a

heart:

sexy

heart:

boy

heart:

that

heart:

caught

heart:

his

heart:

eye,

heart:

a

heart:

little

heart:

distraction

heart:

while

heart:

he

heart:

concludes

heart:

a

heart:

business

heart:

deal

heart:

in

heart:

town,

heart:

perhaps.

heart:

I

heart:

expected

heart:

no

heart:

more

heart:

than

heart:

that,

heart:

and

heart:

he

heart:

does

heart:

not

heart:

disappoint

heart:

me.

heart:

I

heart:

feel

heart:

a

heart:

little

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

wax

heart:

that

heart:

held

heart:

my

heart:

wings

heart:

together

heart:

give

heart:

way.

heart:

It

heart:

hurts

heart:

me,

heart:

because

heart:

I

heart:

know

heart:

that

heart:

he

heart:

doesn't

heart:

love

heart:

me,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

decide

heart:

to

heart:

let

heart:

him

heart:

take

heart:

the

heart:

pain

heart:

away,

heart:

for

heart:

a

heart:

little

heart:

while. He

heart:

gently

heart:

raises

heart:

me

heart:

out

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

chair,

heart:

and,

heart:

without

heart:

a

heart:

word,

heart:

leads

heart:

me

heart:

to

heart:

the

heart:

bedroom.

heart:

I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

ask,

heart:

or

heart:

assent,

heart:

but

heart:

I

heart:

let

heart:

my

heart:

clothes

heart:

tumble

heart:

down

heart:

around

heart:

me.

heart:

He

heart:

runs

heart:

his

heart:

hands

heart:

over

heart:

my

heart:

body,

heart:

gently,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

can

heart:

tell

heart:

he's

heart:

done

heart:

this

heart:

many,

heart:

many

heart:

times

heart:

before.

heart:

I

heart:

wonder,

heart:

briefly,

heart:

how

heart:

many

heart:

beautiful

heart:

young

heart:

men

heart:

have

heart:

submitted

heart:

to

heart:

his

heart:

wisdom,

heart:

his

heart:

softness,

heart:

his

heart:

money.

heart:

He

heart:

lifts

heart:

me

heart:

in

heart:

his

heart:

arms,

heart:

kissing

heart:

my

heart:

flat

heart:

stomach,

heart:

and

heart:

I'm

heart:

trembling,

heart:

like

heart:

a

heart:

virgin,

heart:

as

heart:

he

heart:

lays

heart:

me

heart:

down

heart:

on

heart:

the

heart:

bed.

heart:

It

heart:

isn't

heart:

fear

heart:

or

heart:

desire

heart:

that

heart:

make

heart:

me

heart:

shake,

heart:

but

heart:

the

heart:

very

heart:

definite

heart:

feeling

heart:

that

heart:

my

heart:

wings

heart:

have

heart:

melted

heart:

away

heart:

to

heart:

nothing,

heart:

and

heart:

that

heart:

I'm

heart:

not

heart:

falling

heart:

back

heart:

onto

heart:

a

heart:

bed,

heart:

but

heart:

into

heart:

a

heart:

cold,

heart:

dark

heart:

sea.

heart:

I

heart:

watch

heart:

him

heart:

disrobe,

heart:

past

heart:

caring

heart:

at

heart:

all

heart:

what

heart:

he

heart:

looks

heart:

like,

heart:

and

heart:

beg

heart:

Derek's

heart:

memory

heart:

to

heart:

forgive

heart:

me.

To

heart:

his

heart:

credit,

heart:

when

heart:

it's

heart:

over,

heart:

he

heart:

holds

heart:

me,

heart:

gently,

heart:

like

heart:

a

heart:

child,

heart:

and

heart:

I

heart:

begin

heart:

to

heart:

think

heart:

I

heart:

might've

heart:

been

heart:

wrong

heart:

about

heart:

him.

heart:

I

heart:

do

heart:

not

heart:

sleep

heart:

in

heart:

his

heart:

arms,

heart:

but

heart:

lie

heart:

awake,

heart:

listening

heart:

to

heart:

him

heart:

breathe.

heart:

I

heart:

watch

heart:

the

heart:

dawn

heart:

crawl

heart:

up

heart:

the

heart:

sky

heart:

and

heart:

set

heart:

the

heart:

clouds

heart:

on

heart:

fire.

heart:

He

heart:

wakes

heart:

up

heart:

and

heart:

smiles

heart:

at

heart:

me. "What

heart:

time

heart:

is

heart:

it?"

I

heart:

glance

heart:

over

heart:

at

heart:

the

heart:

clock. "Eight

heart:

AM?"

He

heart:

groans. "I

heart:

have

heart:

to

heart:

get

heart:

up.

heart:

I

heart:

have

heart:

an

heart:

important

heart:

meeting

heart:

this

heart:

morning."

heart:

He

heart:

disentangles

heart:

himself

heart:

from me,

heart:

takes

heart:

fresh

heart:

clothes

heart:

out

heart:

of

heart:

the

heart:

hotel

heart:

dresser

heart:

and

heart:

turns

heart:

to

heart:

look

heart:

at

heart:

me. "Is

heart:

there

heart:

anything

heart:

you

heart:

want?

heart:

Can I

heart:

give

heart:

you

heart:

any

heart:

money?"

I

heart:

feel

heart:

my

heart:

heart,

heart:

not

heart:

the

heart:

glass

heart:

one,

heart:

but

heart:

the

heart:

far

heart:

more

heart:

fragile

heart:

one

heart:

beneath

heart:

it,

heart:

shudder

heart:

and

heart:

crack,

heart:

a

heart:

deep

heart:

flaw

heart:

running

heart:

into

heart:

it.

heart:

I

heart:

was

heart:

right

heart:

about

heart:

him;

heart:

I'm

heart:

just

heart:

another

heart:

boy-whore

heart:

to

heart:

him. "No.

heart:

No,

heart:

I

heart:

don't

heart:

want

heart:

anything."

"Can

heart:

I

heart:

give

heart:

you

heart:

a

heart:

lift

heart:

somewhere?"

Translation:

Translation:

I

Translation:

want

Translation:

you

Translation:

out

Translation:

of

Translation:

the

Translation:

hotel

Translation:

room.

"Yes,

Translation:

thanks.

Translation:

To

Translation:

my

Translation:

apartment."

Silence

Translation:

while

Translation:

dressing.

Translation:

Silence

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

elevator.

Translation:

Silence

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

limo.

Translation:

It

Translation:

pulls

Translation:

up

Translation:

in

Translation:

front

Translation:

of

Translation:

my

Translation:

building,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

step

Translation:

out. "Will

Translation:

I

Translation:

see

Translation:

you

Translation:

again?"

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

to

Translation:

ask.

He

Translation:

looks

Translation:

up

Translation:

at

Translation:

me.

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

see

Translation:

the "no"

Translation:

in

Translation:

his

Translation:

eyes. "Will

Translation:

you

Translation:

be

Translation:

dancing

Translation:

tonight?"

"Yes."

"I'll

Translation:

try

Translation:

to

Translation:

come

Translation:

by

Translation:

the

Translation:

club."

Translation:

We

Translation:

both

Translation:

know

Translation:

its

Translation:

not

Translation:

true,

Translation:

but

Translation:

I nod.

"Goodbye,

Translation:

Tyrone."

He

Translation:

says

Translation:

nothing

Translation:

more,

Translation:

but

Translation:

closes

Translation:

his

Translation:

door,

Translation:

disappearing

Translation:

behind

Translation:

tinted

Translation:

windows.

Translation:

I

Translation:

watch

Translation:

his

Translation:

limo

Translation:

pull

Translation:

away,

Translation:

then

Translation:

walk

Translation:

upstairs

Translation:

to

Translation:

my

Translation:

apartment.

Translation:

I

Translation:

flop

Translation:

into

Translation:

bed

Translation:

and,

Translation:

when

Translation:

next

Translation:

I

Translation:

look,

Translation:

the

Translation:

sun

Translation:

has

Translation:

set.

Translation:

I

Translation:

pull

Translation:

myself

Translation:

out

Translation:

of

Translation:

bed

Translation:

and

Translation:

prepare

Translation:

to

Translation:

head

Translation:

to

Translation:

the

Translation:

club.

Translation:

Something

Translation:

compels

Translation:

me

Translation:

to

Translation:

touch

Translation:

the

Translation:

shoes

Translation:

my

Translation:

father

Translation:

gave

Translation:

me,

Translation:

and

Translation:

they

Translation:

seem

Translation:

warm

Translation:

to

Translation:

my

Translation:

touch.

Translation:

Without

Translation:

any

Translation:

real

Translation:

idea

Translation:

why,

Translation:

I

Translation:

take

Translation:

them

Translation:

down

Translation:

off

Translation:

the

Translation:

wall

Translation:

and

Translation:

carry

Translation:

them

Translation:

with

Translation:

me

Translation:

to

Translation:

the

Translation:

club.

Translation:

Charlie

Translation:

is

Translation:

there,

Translation:

and

Translation:

he

Translation:

can

Translation:

see

Translation:

from

Translation:

my

Translation:

face

Translation:

how

Translation:

things

Translation:

went,

Translation:

so

Translation:

he

Translation:

doesn't

Translation:

bother

Translation:

asking.

Translation:

He

Translation:

just

Translation:

hugs

Translation:

me,

Translation:

then

Translation:

goes

Translation:

back

Translation:

to

Translation:

the

Translation:

task

Translation:

of

Translation:

preparing

Translation:

the

Translation:

lighting

Translation:

for

Translation:

the

Translation:

evening.

Translation:

I

Translation:

flop

Translation:

into

Translation:

my

Translation:

dressing

Translation:

room,

Translation:

and

Translation:

remain

Translation:

blessedly

Translation:

free

Translation:

of

Translation:

Louis

Translation:

while

Translation:

I

Translation:

get

Translation:

myself

Translation:

together.

I

Translation:

stare

Translation:

at

Translation:

myself

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

mirror,

Translation:

touching

Translation:

the

Translation:

glass

Translation:

heart,

Translation:

and

Translation:

wish

Translation:

that the

Translation:

world

Translation:

would

Translation:

just

Translation:

go

Translation:

away.

Translation:

A

Translation:

single

Translation:

tear

Translation:

drips

Translation:

down

Translation:

my

Translation:

cheek.

Translation:

I

Translation:

close

Translation:

my

Translation:

fingers

Translation:

around

Translation:

the

Translation:

heart

Translation:

and

Translation:

shut

Translation:

my

Translation:

eyes.

Translation:

Derek

Translation:

is

Translation:

so

Translation:

close

Translation:

to

Translation:

me

Translation:

that

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

almost

Translation:

smell

Translation:

him,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

hear

Translation:

his

Translation:

voice

Translation:

in

Translation:

my

Translation:

ears. "I

Translation:

love

Translation:

you,

Translation:

sweet

Translation:

dancer,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I'll

Translation:

always

Translation:

be

Translation:

with

Translation:

you."

Translation:

Another

Translation:

tear

Translation:

sneaks

Translation:

out

Translation:

from

Translation:

behind

Translation:

my

Translation:

lashes. "You

Translation:

might

Translation:

not

Translation:

always

Translation:

see

Translation:

me,

Translation:

but

Translation:

I'll

Translation:

be

Translation:

there."

Translation:

Derek.

Translation:

My

Translation:

heart,

Translation:

cold

Translation:

for

Translation:

so

Translation:

long,

Translation:

starts

Translation:

to

Translation:

warm,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

hug

Translation:

myself

Translation:

tightly,

Translation:

imagining

Translation:

his

Translation:

arms.

Charlie

Translation:

knocks

Translation:

on

Translation:

the

Translation:

door

Translation:

and

Translation:

comes

Translation:

in. "That

Translation:

bad?"

Translation:

he

Translation:

asks,

Translation:

softly.

Translation:

There is

Translation:

a

Translation:

flood

Translation:

of

Translation:

tears

Translation:

streaking

Translation:

down

Translation:

my

Translation:

cheeks,

Translation:

but,

Translation:

somehow,

Translation:

I

Translation:

smile

Translation:

through

Translation:

it

Translation:

all.

"Charlie,

Translation:

is

Translation:

it

Translation:

okay

Translation:

to

Translation:

hold

Translation:

onto

Translation:

a

Translation:

memory

Translation:

of

Translation:

someone

Translation:

you

Translation:

love?"

"Course

Translation:

it

Translation:

is!

Translation:

God,

Translation:

y'know

Translation:

what

Translation:

keeps

Translation:

me

Translation:

going?

Translation:

I

Translation:

think

Translation:

about

Translation:

my

Translation:

little

Translation:

brother.

Translation:

He's

Translation:

been

Translation:

dead

Translation:

since

Translation:

I

Translation:

was

Translation:

twenty,

Translation:

but

Translation:

I'm

Translation:

never

Translation:

gonna

Translation:

stop

Translation:

thinking

Translation:

about

Translation:

him.

Translation:

I

Translation:

love

Translation:

him,

Translation:

and,

Translation:

sometimes,

Translation:

it

Translation:

feels

Translation:

like

Translation:

he's

Translation:

right there with me, y'know?"

"Sometimes, it feels like Derek's still

Translation:

here,

Translation:

with

Translation:

me."

"He

Translation:

always

Translation:

will

Translation:

be,

Translation:

kid.

Translation:

I

Translation:

never

Translation:

knew

Translation:

anyone

Translation:

who

Translation:

loved

Translation:

anyone

Translation:

else

Translation:

as

Translation:

much

Translation:

as

Translation:

he

Translation:

loved

Translation:

you.

Translation:

And

Translation:

I

Translation:

know

Translation:

you

Translation:

were

Translation:

nuts

Translation:

about

Translation:

him.

Translation:

You

Translation:

guys're

Translation:

never

Translation:

gonna

Translation:

be

Translation:

apart,

Translation:

really.

Translation:

Just

Translation:

don't

Translation:

let

Translation:

that

Translation:

ruin

Translation:

the

Translation:

rest

Translation:

of

Translation:

your

Translation:

life."

"What

Translation:

was

Translation:

your

Translation:

brother

Translation:

like?"

Charlie

Translation:

sighs,

Translation:

softly. "A

Translation:

lot

Translation:

like

Translation:

you.

Translation:

He

Translation:

loved

Translation:

dancing.

Translation:

And

Translation:

he

Translation:

was

Translation:

really

Translation:

sensitive.

Translation:

And

Translation:

he

Translation:

was

Translation:

cute,

Translation:

and

Translation:

he

Translation:

needed

Translation:

a

Translation:

big

Translation:

brother

Translation:

to

Translation:

keep

Translation:

an

Translation:

eye

Translation:

on

Translation:

him."

Translation:

He

Translation:

shrugs. "A

Translation:

lot

Translation:

like

Translation:

you."

I

Translation:

stand,

Translation:

hug

Translation:

him,

Translation:

and

Translation:

kiss

Translation:

his

Translation:

cheek.

Translation:

He

Translation:

kisses

Translation:

my

Translation:

forehead,

Translation:

tenderly,

Translation:

then

Translation:

turns

Translation:

to

Translation:

leave. "Thanks,

Translation:

big

Translation:

bro,"

Translation:

I

Translation:

say

Translation:

with

Translation:

a

Translation:

smile.

Translation:

He

Translation:

pauses

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

doorway,

Translation:

smiles

Translation:

at

Translation:

me,

Translation:

fondly,

Translation:

and

Translation:

then

Translation:

walks

Translation:

out. I

Translation:

look back

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

mirror,

Translation:

and,

Translation:

for

Translation:

the

Translation:

first

Translation:

time

Translation:

in

Translation:

a

Translation:

long

Translation:

time,

Translation:

I

Translation:

recognize

Translation:

myself.

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

to

Translation:

get

Translation:

ready.

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

a

Translation:

lot

Translation:

of

Translation:

things

Translation:

to

Translation:

do.

Translation:

I

Translation:

pick

Translation:

up

Translation:

my

Translation:

magick

Translation:

slippers

Translation:

and,

Translation:

carefully,

Translation:

start

Translation:

to

Translation:

lace

Translation:

them

Translation:

on

Translation:

my

Translation:

feet.

When

Translation:

I

Translation:

come

Translation:

out

Translation:

of

Translation:

the

Translation:

room,

Translation:

I

Translation:

run

Translation:

into

Translation:

Charlie,

Translation:

lugging

Translation:

CDs

Translation:

to

Translation:

the

Translation:

DJ. "Hey,"

Translation:

he

Translation:

calls, "what

Translation:

do

Translation:

you

Translation:

want

Translation:

to

Translation:

dance

Translation:

to

Translation:

tonight?"

I

Translation:

ponder. "How about B.B.Wolf

Translation:

and

Translation:

the

Translation:

Midnight

Translation:

Howlers?

Translation:

That

Translation:

song

Translation:

about

Translation:

loneliness."

He

Translation:

cocks

Translation:

his

Translation:

head,

Translation:

curiously. "That's

Translation:

pretty,

Translation:

but

Translation:

kind

Translation:

of

Translation:

a

Translation:

downer."

Nodding,

Translation:

I head

Translation:

for

Translation:

the

Translation:

stage

Translation:

area. "I

Translation:

have

Translation:

something

Translation:

special

Translation:

in

Translation:

mind,"

Translation:

I

Translation:

call

Translation:

back

Translation:

to

Translation:

him.

After

Translation:

a

Translation:

million

Translation:

years

Translation:

of

Translation:

watching

Translation:

the

Translation:

other

Translation:

boys

Translation:

thrust

Translation:

themselves

Translation:

at

Translation:

the

Translation:

audience,

Translation:

I

Translation:

hear

Translation:

Louis

Translation:

introducing

Translation:

me,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

walk

Translation:

onstage.

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

on

Translation:

a

Translation:

leather

Translation:

jacket,

Translation:

open

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

front,

Translation:

a

Translation:

loose

Translation:

pair

Translation:

of

Translation:

shorts over a

Translation:

speedo,

Translation:

the

Translation:

slippers

Translation:

from

Translation:

my

Translation:

wall,

Translation:

and

Translation:

my

Translation:

glass

Translation:

heart.

Translation:

I

Translation:

also

Translation:

wear

Translation:

my

Translation:

flying

Translation:

dreams,

Translation:

but

Translation:

nobody

Translation:

can

Translation:

see

Translation:

those.

Translation:

I

Translation:

hear

Translation:

the

Translation:

first

Translation:

few

Translation:

notes

Translation:

of

Translation:

the

Translation:

song,

Translation:

and

Translation:

then

Translation:

B.B.'s

Translation:

voice

Translation:

slides

Translation:

in,

Translation:

low

Translation:

and

Translation:

smooth.

Translation:

The

Translation:

voice of

Translation:

someone

Translation:

who

Translation:

knows

Translation:

pain

Translation:

as

Translation:

well

Translation:

as

Translation:

I

Translation:

do.

I'm

Translation:

sitting

Translation:

here,

Translation:

tonight,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

know

Translation:

you're

Translation:

far

Translation:

away,
But

Translation:

I

Translation:

guess,

Translation:

if

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

to,

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

wait

Translation:

another

Translation:

day.
But

Translation:

don't

Translation:

you

Translation:

wait

Translation:

forever

Translation:

to

Translation:

knock

Translation:

upon

Translation:

my

Translation:

door,
'Cause

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

feel

Translation:

the

Translation:

loneliness,

Translation:

like

Translation:

waves

Translation:

upon

Translation:

the

Translation:

shore.

I

Translation:

start

Translation:

to

Translation:

sway,

Translation:

my

Translation:

body

Translation:

slowly

Translation:

undulating

Translation:

in

Translation:

time

Translation:

with

Translation:

the

Translation:

music.

Translation:

B.B's

Translation:

voice

Translation:

sings

Translation:

through

Translation:

me,

Translation:

making

Translation:

me

Translation:

ache

Translation:

deep

Translation:

inside.

Translation:

Tonight,

Translation:

I

Translation:

dance

Translation:

for

Translation:

Derek,

Translation:

and

Translation:

for

Translation:

myself,

Translation:

and

Translation:

no

Translation:

one

Translation:

else.

Translation:

I

Translation:

feel

Translation:

a

Translation:

fierce,

Translation:

independent

Translation:

smile

Translation:

begin,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

do

Translation:

not

Translation:

try

Translation:

to

Translation:

stop

Translation:

it.

Don't

Translation:

answer

Translation:

my

Translation:

call,
Don't

Translation:

answer

Translation:

me

Translation:

at

Translation:

all,
Don't

Translation:

try

Translation:

to

Translation:

heal

Translation:

my

Translation:

heart,
'Cause

Translation:

I

Translation:

knew

Translation:

at

Translation:

the

Translation:

start...

The

Translation:

music

Translation:

changes,

Translation:

becoming

Translation:

faster,

Translation:

more

Translation:

energetic.

Translation:

I

Translation:

close

Translation:

my

Translation:

eyes,

Translation:

feeling

Translation:

the

Translation:

rhythm

Translation:

deep

Translation:

down

Translation:

in

Translation:

my

Translation:

soul.

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

dance

Translation:

without

Translation:

my

Translation:

eyes;

Translation:

I'm

Translation:

wearing

Translation:

my

Translation:

glass

Translation:

heart

Translation:

and

Translation:

my

Translation:

magick

Translation:

slippers.

Translation:

Tonight,

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

fly,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

do

Translation:

not

Translation:

need

Translation:

to

Translation:

see

Translation:

anything.

Without

Translation:

you,

Translation:

I'd

Translation:

be

Translation:

lonely,
And

Translation:

without

Translation:

you,

Translation:

I'll

Translation:

be

Translation:

only
Killing

Translation:

time.

My

Translation:

motions

Translation:

follow

Translation:

the

Translation:

music,

Translation:

draw it

Translation:

in,

Translation:

and

Translation:

use

Translation:

it

Translation:

to

Translation:

fly.

Translation:

I

Translation:

am

Translation:

Nijinsky,

Translation:

beloved

Translation:

by

Translation:

my

Translation:

audience,

Translation:

even

Translation:

if

Translation:

they

Translation:

don't

Translation:

know

Translation:

exactly

Translation:

who

Translation:

I

Translation:

am.

Translation:

The

Translation:

notes

Translation:

soar,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

lift

Translation:

off

Translation:

the

Translation:

stage,

Translation:

leaping

Translation:

high

Translation:

into

Translation:

the

Translation:

air,

Translation:

soaring

Translation:

with

Translation:

them.

But

Translation:

I

Translation:

won't

Translation:

be

Translation:

defeated,
'Cause

Translation:

this

Translation:

won't

Translation:

be

Translation:

repeated,
Because

Translation:

I'm...

Derek, I

Translation:

mouth

Translation:

silently,

Translation:

leaping

Translation:

off

Translation:

the

Translation:

stage

Translation:

again,

Translation:

flying

Translation:

high

Translation:

above

Translation:

the

Translation:

footlights.

Not

Translation:

lonely

Translation:

any more.
Not

Translation:

lonely

Translation:

any

Translation:

more.
Not

Translation:

lonely…

Translation:

Any…

Translation:

More.

The

Translation:

audience

Translation:

gapes.

Translation:

They have

Translation:

never

Translation:

seen

Translation:

me

Translation:

dance

Translation:

like

Translation:

this

Translation:

before.

Translation:

I

Translation:

leap

Translation:

almost

Translation:

offstage,

Translation:

landing

Translation:

just

Translation:

on

Translation:

the

Translation:

edge,

Translation:

my

Translation:

toes

Translation:

touching

Translation:

only

Translation:

thin

Translation:

air

Translation:

while

Translation:

my

Translation:

heels

Translation:

grip

Translation:

the

Translation:

wood.

Translation:

I

Translation:

slowly

Translation:

slide

Translation:

down

Translation:

as

Translation:

the

Translation:

Midnight

Translation:

Howlers

Translation:

fill

Translation:

the

Translation:

gap

Translation:

between

Translation:

verses

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

song.

Translation:

I

Translation:

arch

Translation:

my

Translation:

back,

Translation:

displaying

Translation:

my

Translation:

body

Translation:

to

Translation:

them,

Translation:

then

Translation:

flip

Translation:

backwards

Translation:

into

Translation:

a

Translation:

split

Translation:

on

Translation:

the

Translation:

floor.

Translation:

With

Translation:

a

Translation:

flick

Translation:

of

Translation:

my

Translation:

legs

Translation:

and

Translation:

tail,

Translation:

I

Translation:

rise

Translation:

back

Translation:

to

Translation:

my

Translation:

feet,

Translation:

seemingly

Translation:

by

Translation:

magic,

Translation:

and

Translation:

there

Translation:

is

Translation:

magic

Translation:

in

Translation:

my

Translation:

dance

Translation:

tonight.

Translation:

It

Translation:

shines

Translation:

in

Translation:

every

Translation:

step

Translation:

I

Translation:

take,

Translation:

and

Translation:

it

Translation:

burns

Translation:

in

Translation:

every

Translation:

twirl

Translation:

and

Translation:

leap.

Translation:

The

Translation:

audience is

Translation:

in

Translation:

awe

Translation:

of

Translation:

it,

Translation:

and,

Translation:

more,

Translation:

they

Translation:

are

Translation:

disturbed

Translation:

by

Translation:

it.

Translation:

I am

Translation:

not

Translation:

a

Translation:

victim

Translation:

for

Translation:

them

Translation:

any more.

Translation:

Now,

Translation:

I am

Translation:

the

Translation:

strong

Translation:

one.

Translation:

I am

Translation:

the

Translation:

aggressor.

It’s

Translation:

not

Translation:

that

Translation:

I

Translation:

don't

Translation:

want

Translation:

you,

Translation:

girl,

Translation:

or

Translation:

that

Translation:

there's

Translation:

someone

Translation:

new,
But

Translation:

I

Translation:

won't

Translation:

be

Translation:

ignored

Translation:

or

Translation:

shunned

Translation:

or

Translation:

shelved

Translation:

away

Translation:

by

Translation:

you.
So

Translation:

if

Translation:

you

Translation:

want

Translation:

to

Translation:

keep

Translation:

me,

Translation:

I

Translation:

suggest

Translation:

you

Translation:

pay

Translation:

a

Translation:

call,
Or

Translation:

else

Translation:

you'll

Translation:

find

Translation:

that

Translation:

I'm

Translation:

not

Translation:

scared

Translation:

of

Translation:

loneliness

Translation:

at

Translation:

all.

I

Translation:

pull

Translation:

off

Translation:

the

Translation:

jacket

Translation:

and

Translation:

let

Translation:

it

Translation:

fall,

Translation:

sliding

Translation:

my

Translation:

hands

Translation:

over

Translation:

the

Translation:

fur

Translation:

of

Translation:

my

Translation:

chest

Translation:

and

Translation:

down

Translation:

over

Translation:

the

Translation:

shorts.

Translation:

They are

Translation:

too

Translation:

stunned

Translation:

by

Translation:

me

Translation:

to

Translation:

want

Translation:

me

Translation:

tonight.

Translation:

They

Translation:

almost

Translation:

fear

Translation:

me;

Translation:

they

Translation:

fear

Translation:

the

Translation:

power

Translation:

and

Translation:

independence

Translation:

I'm

Translation:

showing

Translation:

them

Translation:

tonight.

Translation:

In

Translation:

the

Translation:

past

Translation:

they

Translation:

were

Translation:

always

Translation:

able

Translation:

to

Translation:

believe

Translation:

that

Translation:

I

Translation:

needed

Translation:

them,

Translation:

but,

Translation:

tonight,

Translation:

I am

Translation:

showing

Translation:

them

Translation:

that

Translation:

I

Translation:

do

Translation:

not

Translation:

need

Translation:

anybody.

Translation:

Nobody

Translation:

living

Translation:

owns

Translation:

me,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I am

Translation:

finally

Translation:

free

Translation:

of

Translation:

my

Translation:

beloved

Translation:

ghost.

Translation:

My

Translation:

life,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I

Translation:

am

Translation:

truly

Translation:

alive,

Translation:

is

Translation:

my

Translation:

own.

I

Translation:

won't

Translation:

answer

Translation:

your

Translation:

call,
Or

Translation:

answer

Translation:

you

Translation:

at

Translation:

all,
Or

Translation:

seek

Translation:

your

Translation:

heart.
We

Translation:

knew

Translation:

from

Translation:

the

Translation:

start...

I

Translation:

pull

Translation:

the

Translation:

shorts

Translation:

down,

Translation:

revealing

Translation:

the

Translation:

tight

Translation:

speedo

Translation:

beneath.

Translation:

I

Translation:

am

Translation:

aroused,

Translation:

thrilled

Translation:

by

Translation:

the

Translation:

sheer

Translation:

feeling

Translation:

of

Translation:

freedom,

Translation:

and

Translation:

the

Translation:

sight

Translation:

of

Translation:

me

Translation:

makes

Translation:

a

Translation:

few

Translation:

of

Translation:

the

Translation:

men

Translation:

moan.

Translation:

They have

Translation:

started

Translation:

to

Translation:

want

Translation:

me

Translation:

again,

Translation:

but

Translation:

its

Translation:

different,

Translation:

now.

Translation:

Now

Translation:

I have

Translation:

shown

Translation:

them

Translation:

that

Translation:

I am

Translation:

not

Translation:

an

Translation:

innocent

Translation:

boy,

Translation:

but

Translation:

a

Translation:

man,

Translation:

with

Translation:

desires

Translation:

of

Translation:

my

Translation:

own

Translation:

and

Translation:

a

Translation:

passion

Translation:

to

Translation:

match

Translation:

theirs.

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

thrown

Translation:

the

Translation:

gauntlet,

Translation:

and

Translation:

a

Translation:

few

Translation:

have

Translation:

begun

Translation:

to

Translation:

rise

Translation:

to

Translation:

the

Translation:

challenge.

Translation:

Maybe

Translation:

I'll

Translation:

take

Translation:

them

Translation:

up

Translation:

on

Translation:

their

Translation:

offers

Translation:

now,

Translation:

and

Translation:

maybe

Translation:

I

Translation:

won't,

Translation:

but,

Translation:

it

Translation:

will

Translation:

be

Translation:

on

Translation:

my

Translation:

terms,

Translation:

now.

You're

Translation:

the

Translation:

one

Translation:

who's

Translation:

lonely.
When

Translation:

I'm

Translation:

alone,

Translation:

I'm

Translation:

only
Killing

Translation:

time.

I

Translation:

rip

Translation:

the

Translation:

thong

Translation:

away

Translation:

and

Translation:

caress

Translation:

myself

Translation:

from

Translation:

head

Translation:

to

Translation:

toe,

Translation:

my

Translation:

hands

Translation:

moving

Translation:

in

Translation:

counterpoint

Translation:

to

Translation:

one

Translation:

another

Translation:

and

Translation:

to

Translation:

my

Translation:

body

Translation:

which

Translation:

never

Translation:

stops

Translation:

dancing.

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

never

Translation:

enjoyed

Translation:

the

Translation:

feeling

Translation:

of

Translation:

dancing

Translation:

more

Translation:

than

Translation:

I

Translation:

do

Translation:

now.

I

Translation:

can't

Translation:

be

Translation:

defeated,
And

Translation:

this

Translation:

won't

Translation:

be

Translation:

repeated,
Because

Translation:

I'm...

I

Translation:

fly

Translation:

off

Translation:

the

Translation:

stage

Translation:

one

Translation:

more

Translation:

time

Translation:

and

Translation:

land,

Translation:

for

Translation:

once,

Translation:

in

Translation:

the

Translation:

audience,

Translation:

daring

Translation:

them

Translation:

to

Translation:

touch

Translation:

me.

Translation:

They

Translation:

gasp,

Translation:

and

Translation:

Charlie

Translation:

scrambles

Translation:

to

Translation:

follow

Translation:

me

Translation:

with

Translation:

the

Translation:

pin-spot.

Translation:

I

Translation:

move

Translation:

amongst

Translation:

them,

Translation:

but

Translation:

they

Translation:

keep

Translation:

their

Translation:

hands

Translation:

to

Translation:

themselves.

Translation:

Some

Translation:

of

Translation:

them

Translation:

cannot

Translation:

even

Translation:

look

Translation:

at

Translation:

me,

Translation:

but

Translation:

one

Translation:

does,

Translation:

and

Translation:

he

Translation:

watches

Translation:

me

Translation:

with

Translation:

a

Translation:

foreign

Translation:

look

Translation:

in

Translation:

his

Translation:

eye.

Translation:

It is

Translation:

Charlie,

Translation:

his

Translation:

eyes

Translation:

shining.

Translation:

He

Translation:

alone

Translation:

is

Translation:

really

Translation:

watching

Translation:

me.

Not

Translation:

lonely

Translation:

any more!

He

Translation:

is

Translation:

watching

Translation:

me

Translation:

dance.

Translation:

Not

Translation:

lusting

Translation:

or

Translation:

fantasizing,

Translation:

but

Translation:

loving

Translation:

the

Translation:

dance

Translation:

itself.

Not

Translation:

lonely

Translation:

any more!

Like

Translation:

Derek

Translation:

used

Translation:

to

Translation:

do.

Not

Translation:

lonely

Tonight,

Translation:

I

Translation:

dance

Translation:

for

Translation:

Charlie,

Translation:

for

Translation:

me,

Translation:

and

Translation:

to

Translation:

lay

Translation:

Derek's

Translation:

ghost

Translation:

to

Translation:

rest.

Translation:

The

Translation:

rest

Translation:

of

Translation:

the

Translation:

world

Translation:

can

Translation:

watch,

Translation:

but

Translation:

they're

Translation:

unimportant.

Any…

Goodbye,

Translation:

Derek.

Translation:

More.


And

Translation:

I

Translation:

feel

Translation:

his

Translation:

ghost

Translation:

retreat,

Translation:

even

Translation:

as

Translation:

I

Translation:

know

Translation:

it'll

Translation:

be

Translation:

okay.

Translation:

I

Translation:

don't

Translation:

have

Translation:

anyone,

Translation:

right

Translation:

now,

Translation:

but

Translation:

that's

Translation:

not

Translation:

a

Translation:

bad

Translation:

thing

Translation:

any more.

Translation:

The

Translation:

next

Translation:

time

Translation:

I

Translation:

go

Translation:

looking,

Translation:

I

Translation:

know that

Translation:

Derek

Translation:

will

Translation:

be

Translation:

with

Translation:

me,

Translation:

but

Translation:

not

Translation:

hovering in

Translation:

my

Translation:

heart,

Translation:

keeping

Translation:

it

Translation:

glass

Translation:

and

Translation:

fragile.

Translation:

I

Translation:

can

Translation:

fly on

Translation:

my

Translation:

own

Translation:

now,

Translation:

Derek,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I'll

Translation:

dance

Translation:

so

Translation:

strongly

Translation:

and

Translation:

fly

Translation:

so

Translation:

high,

Translation:

that

Translation:

they

Translation:

will

Translation:

say

Translation:

that

Translation:

even

Translation:

Nijinsky

Translation:

was

Translation:

clumsy

Translation:

and

Translation:

earthbound

Translation:

compared

Translation:

to

Translation:

me.

Translation:

My

Translation:

slippers

Translation:

click

Translation:

together,

Translation:

apart,

Translation:

or

Translation:

anywhere

Translation:

I

Translation:

choose,

Translation:

so

Translation:

long

Translation:

as

Translation:

I

Translation:

choose

Translation:

where

Translation:

they

Translation:

touch.

Translation:

I

Translation:

am

Translation:

a

Translation:

dancer,

Translation:

and

Translation:

I am

Translation:

at

Translation:

home

Translation:

on

Translation:

the

Translation:

stage.

Translation:

Will

Translation:

I

Translation:

find

Translation:

someone

Translation:

else?

Translation:

Right

Translation:

now,

Translation:

it

Translation:

doesn't

Translation:

matter.

Translation:

I

Translation:

have

Translation:

Charlie,

Translation:

and

Translation:

my

Translation:

memories,

Translation:

and

Translation:

my

Translation:

dreams.

Translation:

And

Translation:

my

Translation:

dancing.

Ah,

Translation:

the

Translation:

dancing!

When I dance,

Translation:

all

Translation:

the

Translation:

rest

Translation:

of

Translation:

it

Translation:

ceases

Translation:

to

Translation:

matter.

Translation:

My

Translation:

glass

Translation:

heart

Translation:

could

Translation:

shatter,

Translation:

my

Translation:

flying

Translation:

dreams

Translation:

could

Translation:

unravel,

Translation:

and

Translation:

my

Translation:

magic

Translation:

slippers

Translation:

could

Translation:

rot

Translation:

to

Translation:

dust.

Translation:

When

Translation:

all

Translation:

is

Translation:

said

Translation:

and

Translation:

done,

Translation:

I'll

Translation:

still

Translation:

be

Translation:

dancing.

And

Translation:

when I dance,

Translation:

I

Translation:

dance

Translation:

alone.



This

Translation:

was “Icarus

Translation:

Dreams,

Translation:

a

Translation:

Glass

Translation:

Heart,

Translation:

and

Translation:

Slippers

Translation:

to

Translation:

Take

Translation:

Me

Translation:

Home”

Translation:

by

Translation:

Andrew “Aethan”

Translation:

French,

Translation:

read

Translation:

for you

Translation:

by

Translation:

the

Translation:

Author.

Translation:

You

Translation:

can

Translation:

find

Translation:

more

Translation:

stories

Translation:

on

Translation:

the

Translation:

web

Translation:

at

Translation:

thevoice.dog,

Translation:

or

Translation:

find

Translation:

the

Translation:

show

Translation:

wherever

Translation:

you

Translation:

get

Translation:

your

Translation:

podcasts.

Translation:

Thank

Translation:

you

Translation:

for

Translation:

listening

Translation:

to

Translation:

The

Translation:

Voice

Translation:

of

Translation:

Dog.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

About your host

Profile picture for Khaki

Khaki