The Gift

Ten Ribbons he bought, five white and five black.

Three paperback books, both 7th editions.

One rose and six daisies, in a golden bouquet,

A greeting card with her name on it.

"Is that all?" she asked, a glint in her eye.

She glided into his vision like a nymph.

"Not quite." he smiled, and presented

to her a gift quite unlike anything else.

A wooden box, delicate leaves carved on it.

She flipped it open; her grey eyes widened

Two dolls stitched together with shiny threads

One girl in silken pink, one boy in royal blue.

"It's beautiful, " she looked up to thank him.

But the warmth had long escaped his face.

Shaking his head, he lifted up a silver knife.

Hand shaking, head bowed, he said, "Sorry."

It took one neat slicing, an acutely sharp cut.

As she cried out in dismay, eyes flashing,

The stitch that held together the hands;

Of the lifeless dolls, now cracked open.

She gazed upon this unexpected mixture,

Of unbound happiness followed by sorrow

And not understanding this hollow act,

She faced him bravely and asked, "Why?"

Stale apologies gushed from his eyes,

As he spoke, "That's the Fate which,

awaits you and me. I'm sorry I had

to do this. You ought to know.

"Ten ribbons to show you that Life

without me is a balance of light and dark.

Three books, two Bronte and one Hardy.

Seven is just an awfully lucky number.

"One Rose to symbolize bloodthirsty Passion

What you will revive once I'm gone.

Six Daisies for your life's simply glamour.

Your name to remind you of Yourself."

He gently placed, two dolls with torn lace

Right next to the presents; her face

Torn apart in shock and misery.

Greeted his floating shimmering orbs.

She watched as the horror of the night

Descended like a clammy mist

Jerking her awake from the dream

As she watched him fading away.

Sweat dribbled down her spine,

The stinging sensation of salty tears.

It was a nightmare of sorts; she consoled

Herself that everything was unchanged.

The clouds crept into the sky outside,

as she merged into nothingness, eyes

closed; her form limp and asleep again.

Two dolls peeked from under her bed.