Enthrall the Night

Ballad of a Politician

A man inside a room is shaking hands with other men

This is how it happens

Our world under command

Shake it, shake it baby

Shake your ass out in that street

You're gonna make us scream someday

You're gonna make us weak

Ballad of a Politician - Regina Spektor

Zoraida's room had no windows, yet Quin knew when the first lights of dawn started to shine. He stood up from the bed and dressed, trying not to wake the woman by his side. He had not slept. It was already hard to do at night. To do so without the earth of his birthplace to lay underneath him was almost impossible.

Instead, he had rested beside her. He had watched her drool on her pillow for a while and listened to the noises she made in her sleep. He had written to Rorik from his phone. Then, he had revised his speech for the summit of Llibre and hated every minute of it. Unwilling to part with the liveliness he had rediscovered because of her, he had stayed by her side as long as he could.

Nevertheless, the time to part had come. It was better to get out before the sun went any higher.

"You're still here?" The human asked in a barely comprehensible morning growl. Her hair had become a bird's nest, her eyes were swollen, and her lips looked incredibly tempting.

"Yes, cat. Thou, I'm afraid I must part."

He bent down and kissed her forehead. She shook her head at his touch. For a moment, Quin feared the meaning behind her act. Did she dislike his proximity? Was she repenting the actions of the previous night?

Then, she grabbed his tie and pulled him close to her. Her lips crushed into his. Soft and wet, they opened eagerly. It was over, however, almost as quickly as it began.

"Thank you for staying," she whispered, before turning her back to him and covering her body under the sheets.

He stood there silently for a moment, unsure about the best way to respond. Ultimately, he decided not to prolong his stay. It would only complicate their goodbyes further.

"I had a great night," he said. "I know we are not to be friends nor continue as lovers. But I still hope we'll meet again someday before dawn, under a kind star."

She did not move from her place in the bed as he left the room. However, he heard her murmuring goodbyes after he had closed the door.

* * *

Zoraida's room had no windows, yet Quin knew when the first lights of dawn started to shine. He stood up from the bed and dressed, trying not to wake the woman by his side. He had not slept. It was already challenging to do at night. To do so without the earth of his birthplace to lay underneath him was almost impossible.

Instead, he had rested beside her. He had watched her drool on her pillow for a while and listened to the noises she made in her sleep. He had written to Rorik from his phone. Then, he had revised his speech for the summit of Llibre and hated every minute of it. Unwilling to part with the liveliness he had rediscovered because of her, he had stayed by her side as long as he could.

Nevertheless, the time to part had come. It was better to get out before the sun went any higher.

"You're still here?" The human asked in a barely comprehensible morning growl. Her hair had become a bird's nest, her eyes were swollen, and her lips looked incredibly tempting.