Voyeur I

Thomas Cane

               They stand in the middle of the Piazza near the obelisk focused intently on themselves and completely isolated from any passerby’s.  He holds a camera poised to record the history and beauty surrounding them, but amongst that beauty she is the focus.  Settled in a white dress with sun drenched hair encircled with flowers her hands on her hips waiting expectantly for the camera to capture poised perfection.  Except there is one flaw that begins to envelop her composure and slowly disintegrates their unassuming companionship.  The ends of her dress drag through the dusty cobblestones and muddy puddles irreparably staining it, and soon the man begins to notice this corruption.  As they continue their vain pursuits the sun continues to beat down on them like flames lashing out of a raging forest fire adding to their eventual devastation.  They had come to this open armed Piazza to repair what had happened between them and hoping that the love of St. Peter could help cease the continued ruin of former affection.  Sadly some wounds run too deep and the damage proved too great for the over-looking saints to heal, and their situation only deteriorated as they exchanged fork-tongued words.  His navy suit took on the appearance of the tainted ends of her dress adding to the darkened cloud of unfaithfulness emanating from them.  Their eyes flash with one last spark of life as they remember when they met, all the memories they shared together whether they were good or bad, and finally the polluted actions they had led them here.  The flash fades and an umbral shroud lays itself over their eyes as they realize this must be the end of them.  He goes one way head hanging low biting back the remorse destroying his heart, and she goes the other with hair that no longer catches in the sun as if this corruption had manifested entirely within her.