A Party Trick

I knew it was him

The smell of the cologne familiar

The memory bubbling up when he smiled

Bubbling now like his drink

Left alone

He ran to the restroom

Take your time

I said

To give me time to hide the evidence

No going back now

I dropped it in there

Feeling just like he did months ago

A predator

Stalking its prey

But this time

I am lethal

I am the carnage

The drink fizzles

Then goes out

Its color changing slightly

Enough for me to notice

Not him in this dark club

Decision made

He sits back down

I push the drink closer to him

He smiles

Shows his predator teeth

I remember how those grazed my neck

Made me tremble

Full of fear

Now I am disgusted

Only movement I make is forward

I flash my teeth back at him

Like that of a wolf

Starved

Hurt

Locked in a cage

Just let out

Who can finish first, I ask

The smile spreads

Like the Cheshire Cat

What will I win, he replies

To go back to my place

I smile

One, two, three

We swallow every drop

But because who I am

In this moment

I don’t let him win

I finish first

He drinks the entire glass

Minutes tick by

I wait

And wait

And wait

Let him finish talking

About how we have to go back

To his place

Since I won

I wave my hand

I decided we can still

Go to mine

Because there’s

No going back

And I decided

In that moment

To scare him

Frighten him

Abuse him

Take his dignity

Like he did to me

I see it

His eyes lose focus

His shoulders slump

His words slur

What is this, he asks

A party trick, I say

With a predator’s smile

I put my arm around his shoulder

And help him to my car

If only he remembered

Who I was

He would be

Safe