By Clair Bijou
CSMS Magazine
I watched them from where I stood, up on the balcony overlooking the dancing crowd. The blast from the music pounded my ears—it made no difference. I was indifferent to what was unfolding before my eyes, for I had seen it all, I had experienced it all. I was by all means bored. For me, it was always the same, every weekend. People came from everywhere to savor what appeared to be the best of time. I stood there, like an astray Haitian bird, catching a glimpse of a world that seemed so distant, but yet so close. Everyone knew not to bother me, for this was my exclusive spot.
It was nearing midnight, and I was getting bored, like always. Ready to call it a night, I ordered one last whiskey. I took my eyes off the dance floor to talk to a friend. As the drink was delivered, I took my glass, raised it to my mouth only to stop midway, for my eyes had once more landed on the dance floor. A girl burst out of the blue, wearing a sleeveless, tight, black dress reaching right above her knees. Her dress blended with the hue of her 6 feet stiletto footwear.
Dahum, I gulped without even tasting my drink. I couldn’t take my eyes away. She was dancing like she owned the dance floor. Multiple eyes were also tracing her moves, but she seemed to pay no attention. She was dancing like a free bird. I put my drink aside, stood up and edged closer. She was marvelous. Her long, dark silky hair pulled back and glittered in the breeze like waves of a gentle sea. She was strolling with grace, twisting her slender body in feline motion. I tightened my grip on the fence to withstand the sudden sensation her sexy move were invoking within me. Right at that moment, she became a temptation.
Suddenly she turned around and our eyes met. I was transfixed. She froze for a while, and then resumed her dance all the while keeping eyes contact. It was as if she were calling me. Her hands moved up and down her body like an early morning siren. Oh yes, the call was great, she didn’t have to sing for me to know that she was a siren. Her move said it all. Like a broken record I moved toward her, never taking her eyes off of her. I was stepping forward—eyes transfixed and hypnotized by her move.
The people on the dance floor cleared away my path as if they knew exactly where I was headed. As I edged closer, I could see her eyes hued in the darkish-blue sky, squinting restlessly. I became hesitant. With her index finger, she summoned me to the dance floor, with a dull air of authority. She turned around, continuing her seductive moves, and without any more delay, I closed the gaps between us.
In a mutually inclusive gesture, we began to dance. Her hips felt like touching a piece of heaven. My nose landed in her hair and I could smell the sweet intoxicated coconut fragrance. Hmm, I brought her closer to my body and she caved in with little resistance. Her body merged perfectly with mine. It was as if we were made for each other, as if it was where I belonged. Slowly ever slowly, we started to move in sync. All the while I kept my face in her hair, encrypting the smell to my memory. The whole world faded in the background; it was me and her and our dancing bodies.
She started grinding on me. Her head landed on my shoulder and I couldn’t help but to start licking her neck. I felt her shivering, and I grinned. I laid my right hand on her upper back while my left hand landed on her thighs. I heard her moan, and like a bouncing ball she turned toward me. Her hands were on my neck and our entwined bodies still glued to the dance floor. I was lost. Her eyes drew me in. She smiled and I couldn’t help but to reciprocate in kind. No words were needed, for she knew perfectly well what she was doing.
I would give almost anything to spend the rest of the night with her. Dancing away like nothing else mattered. For the first time in a long while, I felt alive and I didn’t want this feeling to end. We stared at each other and ever slowly our head moved closer so our mouth could meet. And meet, they did. The first contact was like a blast; and like two starved hyenas we kissed right there on the dance floor. Our tongues locked in a battle of wills that neither of us wanted to lose. Her mouth tasted like sweet venomous wine. Hmm, I have died and gone to heaven.
But all too quickly she moved away, and whispered in my ears “nice dancing with you Romeo.” With that said, she was gone like the wind. I stood there in our spot wondering what just happened. I watched as she ambulated away like a fox among the partygoers, giving me a nice view of what I had just held in my hands. But wait, she called me Romeo, so she knew me. Like lighting bold, I rushed to capture her; but I got pinned down by the crowd. I fought my way across, until I reached the exit door. By the time I stepped out, I could see the silhouette of a taxi rounding up the corner.
She was gone. She came and swept my heart like a hurricane and gone like a fading wind. Who was she and how did she know me? I searched in vain for an answer. One thing I knew for sure, I was going to look for her. I was going to hunt her down. When I find her, she would wish she had never awakened the beast within me. Oh yes, my dear unknown siren, get ready, for Romeo will come for you.
Note: Claire Bijou is poet and essayist. She lives and works in suburban Port-au-Prince. You can read part of her collection by going to our section: Poetry and Literature
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