FULL MOON

She was dancing in the moonlight, calling out to me
Hands outstretched
She wanted us to be witches and she said
"That's what witches do when there's a full moon."
I ran to her, no hesitation, the grass wet and slick under our bare feet
I didn't believe in witches,
But she wanted to pretend and so did I.
Her eyes were sad, her laughter a veil to hide them
When she took my hand in hers,
I could still feel the sting of her mom's drunken shrieks
Hands beating away my dear cousin's joy
We could forget with each twirl and stomp away the fear with shy, jittery feet
Our hands sweaty, our fingers braided
Our laughter and the hum of crickets became our song
She was beautiful like that, like always, blue and green eyes blurred into her pale face
We were spinning, the moon following us
Faster and faster
Though we weren't witches, I could believe that she was a faerie
The way she danced, I could believe that my real cousin was hidden,
In moments like these, behind her surreal eyes
The night grew tired and so did we,
The magic ended as the moon left,
Its decension marking reality's arrival
Quietly, we returned to her room and curled into each other
Like cats
And fell asleep.