They stared at each other from across the room
he seemed to think she was someone he knew
her voice, her skin, her hair
all seemed familiar from somewhere
he shook his head as if in a daze
trying to knock her image from his gaze
but she caught his eye again
made him fear to blink
and then . . . he saw her wink . . .

startled anew
his heart jumped into his throat
and he swore he felt it bloat
almost gagging him . . .
she had winked at him

what did that mean?
a girl so cute
winking at him?
was it a sign?
or a scheme in part of her clever design?
he had been burned before
and had sworn nevermore

he was angry now
furious with himself
he didnt want to be played
he wasnt an oaf
he averted his gaze
and studied the chalkboard as if he was amazed
glaring at the professors words as if they were aflame

the seconds passed as if they were minutes
and all the while he was devising his plan -
had to get out of this class
and prove to himself that he was a man
he would show her, he thought
wink at him, he thought
he wasnt a toy
and he couldnt be bought

so as the minutes closed on the hour
he packed his bag
and chanced one last glance her way
he seemed to think she was signaling him to stay
but he held his breath and thought
no way

the hour upon him
he stood and started to push his way
out of here he thought
gotta be quick - dont let her get in my way

he was nearly sweating with fear
who was she and what was she doing here?
no other girl had affected him this way
but for some reason he knew he had to get away

he saw her frown as if confused
dont look, dont look her way
hurry, hurry, got to get away

faster now
his legs carrying him
. . . almost free
. . . . . . almost there
his arms reached the door
and proud of himself he looked back to see her utterly
confused stare
but - he didnt care
outta here - into the fresh air

and
she stood there

alone

lifetime upon lifetime
they had found each other there
sitting across the room
lost in each others stares

lifetime upon lifetime
they had talked to each other and come to learn
of how much they had to share

lifetime upon lifetime
upon their return
God gave them a magic ribbon
so they could find each other -
the other half of their eternal soul

but in this classroom today
another was there
charged with a task to make sure
they didnt find each other there
for he knew
that by snipping their ribbon
their lonely souls
would begin to wither

she watched him walk out the door
the invisible link between them broken
she trembled with the loss she knew he had forsaken
but she had not known it was the devil who had taken
the other half of her soul
to feed his delight at watching them both wither

the devil backed away
his shadow retreating
the scissors sliding from his fingers . . .
his task complete