Dancing with the devil

Dark clouds rolled across the evening sky. A summer storm was brewing. A violent one by the look of it. She turned away from the window as a shiver ran down her spine. Something else was lurking out there too...she could sense it. It had been there for some time now, just out of sight. Swift, silent, sinister.
She pushed her uneasiness aside though as she usually did and settled back into her chair. She picked up her knitting , absently counting stitches. "Damn" she thought, "it's wrong again." For months she had been struggling with this project. It was for someone very special to her and she wanted it to be perfect. "Why can't I do this?" she asked herself softly.
The wind was picking up now. She heard the windchimes on the back porch singing their songs. She heard a slight tapping noise too that she found rather odd. Maybe the new screen she put in the door was loose. She got up to check it. She hadn't bothered to turn on the kitchen light so it was dark and she was startled to see him there at the door.
"Oh hi! Why didn't you just use your key?" she asked.
"I wasn't sure you were home." he replied.
"Wait here" she told him, "I need to do something first."
He sat down at the kitchen table while she ran into the living room to hide the project she left in the chair. She didn't want him to see it until it was finished. Her mind was racing though....her car was in the driveway....it was raining...the young one was home tonight....where else would she be? But a visit in the middle of the week was rare so she was happy he was there.
She returned to the kitchen only to realize in horror that it had slipped in with him. That unseen thing that had been lurking outside. It perched itself on the table sneering at her. He was speaking to her but all she heard was that thing's evil hoarse whisper. "I've waited most patiently for this moment. You and your kind think that your weapon is powerful. But mine is powerful too and I am about to destroy you."
Surprised and confused, she tried to turn her attention back to him. He was still speaking... but what was he saying? it was behind her now hissing into her ear. "I have cultivated this one well. You are no match for him, he is bigger and stronger than you are. You will be crushed."
He was still talking. "I'm just not sure what I want from life........I'm not being fair to you.....I just want a break to do my own thing for a while...."
What? What's happening here? She didn't understand.
"It's not you....there's something wrong with me.....I don't know why you want to hang around with me anyway.....I drive you crazy....make your head hurt..."
it was rolling in the floor now in a fit of pure ecstasy.
"I just want to see what's over the next hill....besides I don't think I even know what love is."
The words kept pummeling her, hurting her in a way far worse than possible with physical blows.
"See I told you" it hissed. "you fool, you thought you were teaching him but he's already learned my lessons well. It's every man for himself. Your words are useless."
It was then that she realized she was speaking to him too although she couldn't remember what she was saying. Something about life and love...trying desperatly to get him to change his mind and make him stay...with no success. Suddenly she knew the fight wasn't with him. This cruelty, this lack of compassion was mirrored from it. And it was right....it was powerful. And even though she now knew and understood the battlefield, she felt helpless. She was so small and insignificant....how could she fight it ? She couldn't stop the tears from blinding her. Her arms limp at her sides, she absorbed the blows one after another.
Lightening flashed. The storm intensified.
"Really" it sneered, "I thought you would put up more of a fight. I am deeply disappointed. Come now, if you won't defend yourself let me show you how." it was pressed against her back now lifting both arms. "Tell him what a bastard he is!" it's breath hot in her ears. "tell him how much you hate him for what he is doing to you, especially now. That shouldn't be hard - after all he's breaking your heart...and the young one's too. Scream, yell, tell him how ungrateful he is after all you have done for him. Jerk....fool....swine....you fancy yourself as being good with words.....it should be easy to go on for quite some time."
Her head was spinning. Why was it so dark? Why did she feel so all alone and exposed? Why was she powerless to resist? She opened her mouth and words she didn't recognize spilled forth. The storm raged on, the thunder crashed like broken glass around her. Broken glass??? Green broken glass???? Shards and slivers at her feet. The realization of what she had done shamed her. She turned to face it but it was no longer there. She turned back to him. Now it was her turn to be sorry. Beauty they had both admired and shared lay in pieces between them.

There was only silence now....the storm had moved on. The sky was still dark, but calm. She placed her hand softly on his cheek and in doing so realized she had won after all. It wasn't her heart that needed defended...it was his. It didn't matter if he loved her or not. What mattered was that she loved him for no other reason but that she just did. She was already loved by the only ONE who mattered and she had been given the chance to wrap her love around his heart until that time that he can believe what she is saying is true. If the price of that chance was pain she'll gladly pay it.
He's ready to go now and she knows she must let him leave. She kisses him gently on the mouth and places something in his hand. A small silver cross she has worn since the day he gave it to her. She's returning it , not out of anger like he thinks, but out of love. When he sees it he will know where she learned of love and where she found the courage to face what was lurking in the shadows ready to devour both their hearts. He is safe now even though he was unaware of the danger. He's barely out of the driveway and she misses him so profoundly that it brings her to her knees. She knows there will be dark days ahead, filled with sorrow tears and pain....but at least there won't be anything lurking in the shadows.