Beautiful Lies

Child asleep, cat sprawled lazily on the floor,

Unwashed dishes atop the counter, a couch, hidden under piles of unfolded clothes,

Slumped in her chair, she sighs, cake crumbs at her side,

Flour and cake batter smeared on second day track pants,

Listening to the breathy hum of the heater,

Alone, with nothing but the sweet fantasy of romance,

Fancy dinners and ballrooms,

Dancing in gowns of green and gold,

Her partner, a man so gentle and genuine,

His voice, as soft and tender as his touch,

A smile that can make even the hardened spinster swoon,

The concoction of a love so perfect, it can never be reached,

Unable to be tarnished by cold, cruel reality,

A conscious decision by the mind, to protect a heart so bruised,

Deliberately unobtainable, unquestioningly precise,

Unwilling to settle for a fraction less than the dream,

Knowing she deserves far more than what she has seen in the past,

Seemingly kind words, bereft of truth and compassion,

Cruel and hurtful words barely disguised as suggestions,

Words of love coupled with hateful actions,

Beautiful lies, told to fool the heart, as the mind sought the truth,

Another sigh, toys on the table, clothes strewn on the floor,

Closing her eyes, willing her fantasy to return to fill the void,

A soft, sad smile lifts her lip as the irony strikes,

Beautiful lies,

Such beautiful lies.