She looked into his eyes, hurting br Her lips still pursed, flirting br br She took a step forward, halted br Her mouth tried for words, faltered br br The line of his jaw, resisting br The glint in his eye, insisting br br Her face froze for a moment, cold br She looked down again, old br br He spoke softly then, rhythmic br His words seemed to help, sympathetic br br She looked up again, searching br Her mind tried to work, lurching br br Her arms reached for him, hoping br She almost braved a smile, coping br br The quick touch of his hand, drifting br The frame of his body, twisting br br He began to move away, betraying br His steps down the stairs, fading br br Her heart seemed to stop, broken br She broke into sobs, choking br br After so many nights, unending br After so much hope, unbending br br There was nothing to show br There was nowhere to go br br (dedicated to Zhang Ziyi and 2046)br br Wayne Guy Butterfieldbr br