I caught him looking at me
when the others were turned away
it was a strange look
raw, hungry
and something I couldn't name
something I wasn't sure
that I recognized
at first I'd thought he'd
mock me
but his eyes
simply scaled the length of my body
up and down
the hard lines of muscle
and the silly garish costume
he turned away
sighed
not noticing my mask covered eyes on him
he hugged himself
Roy-picture of misery
and that's when I realized
he watched me
not with jealousy
nor mockery
but with
shame
lust
and maybe
just a little
love.