only two dancers
remain standing
shuffling
   and swaying
under syncopated lights
held by
an unspoken law
an apparently unavoidable
trait of human nature
that forces them
to continue despite
such terrible choices
of song
and persistence
each was merely
a "friend
   of the bride"
moving in different circles
prior to this
their dancefloor meeting
unfortunately
neither can now
abandon the other
to dance alone
to risk being seen
as the cause
for bringing this
near-sacred ritual
to an end
these residual bodies
left with no choice
but to mirror
each movement
match every sidestep
echo every clap
with rhythm
   or without
it will not matter
so long as this
transient solidarity
of misplaced confidence
and forced smiles
continues into
the next song

I left,
not because I didn't care,
but because I cared too much.

I left,
not because I wasn't strong enough,
but because I have been strong for too long.

I left,
not because I stopped loving you,
but because I loved you too much.

I left,
not because you had to leave,
but because I held on for too long.

I left,
not because I wanted to escape,
but because I was confronted with the reality.*

-a.s