Her eyes found mine across the room — and that was the last moment I belonged to myself.

Sauntering over from the corner of the room, it was as if she absorbed the shadows that clung to the walls, ceiling, and floor and reflected them back at me with the stunning brilliance only the darkest night could bring. Stars flickered in her eyes as her gaze dragged from my head to my feet and when she smiled, I could have sworn the world around me tilted a little.

“Good evening.” She said, as those stunning eyes flicked from my eyes to my mouth in the most brilliant way.

I didn’t have the words to respond. I took in the midnight blue gown that clung to her body. Tiny jewels shimmered so bright I was suprised they didn’t cast shadows of their own. Little black heels adorned her feet and her dark hair framed her face in such a way that I suppressed the urge to tuck it behind her ear.

“Good evening,” I finally managed, though it came out choked and a little shaky, “would you do the honor of dancing with me?”

To my surprise, she took her polished hand in mine and graced me with a smile I swear I’ll be chasing for decades.

My hands fit perfectly in the curve of her waist and I relished the feeling of her hands around my neck. The scent of jasmine and vanilla clung to her as if she had an aptmosphere of her own and I was drowning in it. I couldn’t even tell you the name of the song we danced to, but I could tell you every detail of her face. The curve of her ruby red lips, the brown eyes that were like magnets, the slight dimple that graced her cheek.

The memory that haunts me the most, however, is the sight of her walking away. The trail of shadows that she left in her wake promised not only darkness, but monsters that had been lerking for decades. The worst part is, I cling to those demons. I cling to every cast off shadow and dimly lit room because their very essence reminds me of her, of the atmosphere and body that for a brief moment, was my very soul.