A Perfect Circle – The Noose Lyrics
She walked into the diner, dim lights barely exposing those who lived in the shadows. The souls who abandoned society, or had been abandoned.
Scanning the surroundings desperately, she saw him and waved with no false enthusiasm before shuffling to the booth.
“Oh man, I’m starving.” She said while sliding across from him. “Did you order already?”
He just looked at her with a pained look that she ignored.
“Hey,” She raised the menu to browse the items and avoid his sight, “Did you catch my karaoke? What did you think?”
“Ame.” He called out softly. The tone froze her blood and tightened her chest.
Please don’t do this to me, please… she pleaded silently to herself as she felt the world closing in around her.
He slowly pulled the menu down to the table, exposing her to his discerning sight. All she could do was shut her eyes and bite her lip.
He knew that she didn’t want to talk. Refused to, regardless of the truth of the situation. Yet he called out to her again.
“Ame.” He repeated.
Her tears welled up and she opened her eyes to him.
“...Just…” she did her best to choke back the emotions welling up inside, “... I just want to be normal… for a… a moment… please…”
“This isn’t good, this isn’t safe for you,” He said, reaching for her hand.
She pulled away, avoiding his gaze.
He sighed.
A moment.
Another.
“It’s not about me, Ame.” He spoke.
She remains silent, staring at the table. In pain. With her hands in her lap she wrings the ring finger of her left hand, wishing she was anywhere but here. Anywhere but anywhere.
“You know what I’m going to say.”
She nods.
“Can you believe it?”
She remains motionless.
“Is this what you really want? That mark on your cheek?”
Motionless. Still. Tears slide down her cheek.
He takes a pained, shuddering breath.
“I can’t…” he begins before stopping.
A deep breath.
“I can’t force you. I -won’t-... force you to.” He says, then stops to stare at the scared girl before him, his heart aching.
The next words shook with the cold truth he saw before himself.
“I… I’m going to my car.”
He choked them back.
“You can join me, but in five minutes I’m going to drive away. With or without you.”
The pained silence spoke volumes.
She heard a trembling breath taken in.
Slowly he got up.
His hands clutched the table before her, her eyes firmly planted downard.
“Please, don’t stay here.” He whispered.
She watched as droplets hit the table.
She wrung her hands as he walked away.
The bell of the door chimed.
She tried to hold back as the engine revved.