Gladiator

The moonlight
is crisp
as it echo’s its light
upon the shadows
on the floor.

He stands

breathe ragged
and
limbs dripping
with exhaustion.

His hand
grips his armor stubbornly
as if it has become one with he.

There is hurt in his eyes
but she is patient
as
she takes small barefoot steps
and comes to stand before him.

He is enormous

but to fear him
was something she never knew.

She touches his helmet.

It is clad onto his head
so that only his eyes are visible.

She
takes her fingers
and slides them
between
the hard cold iron and his flesh.
She knows he feels her touch
but he is unmoved.

Slowly

and

gently

she tiptoes
to lift the weight
from his face
and it makes
a soft thud
as it hits the plush carpet.

His face is visible now.

She
traces the scar
that runs in a diagonal line
from his forehead to his cheek
del-i-cate-ly
with her finger.

She intently inspects his wound.

It has healed now
but his pain
is still evident.

Her hand
glides
to the plate
upon his breast.

His eyes never leave her.

She un-straps the ties
that have tried
to keep him caged
from the beginnings of time.

Those
ties
that had
fed his rage
because they had him
blinded
with only temporary protection.
The weight of the breast plate
is heavy
as she slowly
puts her arms around him
to catch it before it hits the floor.

Her moves are delicate
as
she lays the heavy metal at her feet.

She turns to him
And
lifts her hands
to feel the smoothness of his shirt.
She feels his pulse
and for a moment
she allows her hand to rest on his beats.

She feels his voice

“Release Me”

She
proceeds.

Slowly her hands
rest
on the tops of his hands
that are gripped tightly
with the only life
he has ever known.

Holstered on his hips is his life.
He lives
by the motto:

“Kill or be killed”

so with every
fiber in his being
his veins
pump death.

She studies him,
brings her eyes to his eyes
and

she

breathes

with

him.

His breathe
has become
a
melancholy whisper
that floats
through the air
and rest
on her shoulders.

She studies him

and
makes
her eyes
open in his
so that he sees
what she is capable of.
She could protect and provide.
She could dance and soothe.
She could move and flow.
She could bring out the best in him,
if only
he would
let her inside.

He

Loosens

His

grip
because he is astonished
by the life in her eyes.

While
eyes are locked
she unbuckles his belt.
His defenses
have fallen
to the floor
and he drops
to his knees.

"Release Me"