Payback

It was our last night in the magical yet cold city of Toronto. 

I dropped of my crew at the lobby of the hotel that had been our home for the past week, so we could empty the rental car of a weeks worth of memories. 

I had been parking the car in the parking garage next door, four levels below ground, everyday in the same stall by my daughter's request. 

I settled the car in, zipped my jacket up and installed my freezing digits in its pockets and headed up. 

Stepped into the elevator and ascended. 

Now I remember the first time I saw her, it was out of the corner of my left eye, her shadow leaning against the wall. 

I was cold and kept on keeping on in my distracted poem in mind state of mind. 

She was now strutting next to me close enough I could smell her nail polish. 

She was wearing a long trench coat it was dark, but it wasn't black it was seal skin, she wore a blue blouse blue earnings and pendant, her hat matched her coat. 

Her facial features were strong she stepped with confidence. 

Without much thought I said "Are you staying in the Marriott?" And she nodded yes. 

We walked together in silence for an eternity and a half. 

Maybe she is sheltering herself against the wind or maybe this pointer scared up some game, I said to myself, I was at a loss. 

She wouldn't walk straight she was leaning into my path so I had to keep stepping to my right.

One time too many she did this and provoked these words out of my mouth; "You smell like destiny." 

She raised her gaze and looked me square in the eyes and said. 

"You smell like an uninvited guest who wraps your hostages in these blasé words that fill your ego."

"You are the poet who whips words into the wind and castigates."

"You smell like cheap French cologne and scotch."

I was startled by her and tipped my beret back to get a better look at her. 

We were now standing still and the world outside froze in attention to the lady in the seal skin. 

I said "Do you know me?"

She said "We all know you, you aren't fooling anyone."

The poetry bit is all fun and games till it's a two ton elephant crushing your heart. 

"You have me at a disadvantage you seem to know more about me than I know of myself" I said.

She moved in closer and closer, I could see her heaving chest as her words escaped her mouth, she seemed possessed. 

I saw her red lips move before I heard the words, "I hate you!"

Those were the last words I heard before she embraced me. 

Her lips found mine. 

Taking the sweetest breath before every kiss I drilled into her burnt wood eyes and stole the reflection of dagger in hand 

She pierced my right shoulder blade all the while kissing me, she dug her dagger into me. 

She looked me in the eyes and said "This is for all who read you."

"This is payback."

I was pinned but not in pain, I begged her to let me bleed slowly. 

I knew a stab in the back wouldn't kill me, I could friend the knife, not her absence...