When the Party’s Over

Runner up in Retreat West’s October 2019 Micro Fiction competition, October 2019

You say you love me.

It was my birthday.

You forgot.

I Invited you to my animal print party.

You didn’t come. Didn’t text.

We met at a masquerade ball; you gave me kisses and your mask.

Took a while, but I unpicked the gauze and sequins. Stitch by stitch.  

Don’t show up now in your new costume.

Touching me. Following me.

Brandishing a limp flower under the darkening sun. 

I won’t laugh this time.

Your superhero clothes and funny sky-high ears won’t beguile me.

Nor buffed, gushy words.

Go find a monster party.

There’s nothing real here. It’s all pretend.