The Dance

As you reach for the auditorium doors the first strings of Wonderful Tonight slowly rise in volume from the gym speakers.

You freeze in place. Everything, absolutely everything, is brought into crystal clear clarity. Love, only love. Nothing else mattered. Standing up tall you turn and walk boldly back to the dance floor.

"Don't you dare Jesse!" You hear your mother say. "I'll throw you out on your ass." You walk around her, ignoring her.

At the musical reminder of your special night Elsie's head had dipped even lower as she danced awkwardly with her partner.

"May I cut in?" You say softly.

She looks up at you with her deep beautiful brown eyes. She was so incredibly beautiful in the dim light of the dance floor. Tears fill her eyes as she nods and smiles. She comes to you and you take her in your arms. The two of you begin slow dancing, pressed close together, your eyes locked. It felt so good for her to be in your arms again. It was easily evident to everyone that this was no normal brother-sister dance. You hear a murmur around you as people react to the inappropriate show of romantic affection.

"Oh my god, that's her brother." "Isn't that Jesse?" "They look like they're in love!" "Holy shit, fucking freaks!" "What a fucked up family!" "So that's why Elsie's so weird." The comments rain down on you both. You hear your mother among them. "Oh no, you stupid stupid kids."

You hear her former dance partner fade away. "That's fucked up dude."

The comments, the gym, the people, everything melts away as you stare into her eyes and she into yours. Sebastian had been so right that night, nothing else mattered. You slow dance, moving in perfect unison, and then as one particular lyric comes up you sing along with it to her.

And the wonder of it all, is that you just don't realize, how much I love you.

She silently mouths the words. "I love you too." Then she closes her eyes and rests her head on your chest. You close your eyes and rest your cheek on top of her head. You hold her close. You feel her soft skin, you smell her, you move with her. The two of you were in a world all your own. It felt like it was just you, Elsie, and the music. You were dancing on air.