Plucked Intimacy/Strays by Raven Wylde
I had a boyfriend who plucked my chin hairs and would have squeezed my blackheads
too
if I had allowed
he sometimes said Can I keep you? and went through a period of saying As You Wish
code words meaning I love you from the movie The Princess Bride
I was never in love (he resented this)
yet came to love him
Our sexual encounters were satisfying and frequent over the five years of our
relationship
but the most intimate times were as I lifted my chin and exposed my throat so
he could better find those strays.
As the curtain parts we see them dance a sultry tango
in complete silence.
The intensity of their dance increases, music becomes audible and the volume rises until the dramatic end of the dance
Penny – Go! Just go now! Jessie drops her. She falls hard to the floor. A loud Thunk.
He turns away. I go!
Penny pleads Not like that Jess. Come back. She shimmies toward him. He turns back, pauses.
Jessie’s hand flies to forehead. No. Our tango has become a nightmare march. I need to Samba. Or waltz. No more!
He runs.
Penny makes a move to follow,
Stops. Slow turn. Fade.