themagic

     I feel that I should be really nervous right now. I usually feel nervous and ill at ease
dancing. I don't do it much. I have a few times, without any encouraging results. Every
movement takes conscious effort and I don't always enjoy it. Sophie had tried to help me
with this. We had been dating for a few weeks and she had tried to show me some simple
dance steps, with limited success. Until now, that is.
      We're in the New York City subway under Central Park. It's dark and dingy and
there's slime on the walls. It's late at night so there aren't many people around, and the few that there are don't seem very friendly. But, I'm dancing.
      I had been staring at an old brown-skinned man playing saxaphone. He's down
here on the platform with his brass instrument, pushing out soul filled tunes. He's
got his instrument case on the floor in front of him, laying open for tips; draped over one
edge is his suit jacket, leaving him in his black dress pants, sharp blue shirt, suspenders and dark bow tie; he's wearing sunglasses that make him look smooth and cool, like in the
movies.
      Sophie was enjoying him too. She had moved close to me and swept me into a nice
swaying dance. It was slow and small at first, but soon we picked up speed and
momentum. I began feeling it on my own and didn't have to watch our feet so much
anymore. I felt free and happy; I was moving with ease and rhythm. I sensed magic.
      I looked into Sophie's deep green eyes. Everything behind her twirled by as we
moved; the visually droning blues and grays of the surrounding subway highlighted her
beautiful, milky skin and rosy cheeks. I think she is glowing. I'm sure we are floating.
      I see the saxophone man over her shoulder now. He is watching us. Our steps have
melted into his melody. As I twirl Sophie around, he is right next to us and I even hear
people clapping and talking; I realize we've attracted a crowd. The music has gotten
faster. I'm not sure what my feet are doing or how they're doing it, but I don't dare look
down for fear of making it stop; the saxophone man is bopping in circles around us as we
twirl the opposite direction. I see Sophie's plush lips and venture my eyes down to find her
neck and shoulders beginning to glisten above her loose blouse. I realize she is looking at
me too. Her smile is incredible and her eyes are like a thirsty traveler drinking me in. I no
longer feel the ground below us. I hear more and more music; the saxophone sounds like a symphony.
     I feel dizzy now. Sophie has blurred - I am kissing her. I feel her warm lips on mine
and my arms around her; I still feel motion, but I'm not sure if we are dancing. Finally she
eases away and looks at me; our hearts are racing and our breath is rushing in and out of
us. I move towards her once more, lightly brushing our lips together. Then I look up to
see our train leaving. The saxophone man is gone. There is no one else around. We are
alone here in each other's arms.
      She looks at me bewildered, and I see as many questions in her eyes as I have in
mine. She doesn't seem to have known the train had been there either. But, that's ok. The
magic is not over and we have a bit more time together now until the next train arrives.

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