Challenge

My eyes gleam
My lips pull up into a sneer
Arms folded, and feet apart
Shoulders back and my head straight
I've issued a challenge
Now I wait for you to accept
Wait for you to pick up my "gauntlet"
Instead, you do worse, much worse
At least if you had picked it up I'd have respect for you
Now I just stare distastefully at your gutlessness
You coward! You didn't even dare meet my gaze
No, you turned away to look at my clenched hands
You wait for someone stronger than you to help
To take my challenge meant for you
But no one stepped in to help your worthless hide
For a second I grit my teeth, my nose flaring
Fine, I'll let you leave with an illusion
An illusion that all is well
So I "seemingly" take back my challenge
I relax my shoulders and unfold my arms
I shrug as if nothing you did troubled me
Now, now you meet my eyes and smile
I let a small smile inch its way to my lips
I guess you thought the conflict was over
That you had done nothing worth challenging
Maybe you felt that we were still friends
But how could I be friends with a spineless snake?

j.h