This is horrible

Tuxedoes and fancy dresses

On a cruise ship

In the casino

Alcohol on everyone’s lips

She’s in a tight black dress

Not feeling herself

Starting to second guess the whole thing

Dipping low

Everything shows

Her friends at the table

People she doesn’t really know

A guy in a tux looks at her

Cold air blows, chilling her skin

Her friend at the table winks at her

She has her sign so finally winks a goodbye

Thankful to be set free

She goes outside and walks the balcony

Down the stairs and back to her room

Changing into her long pants and cotton top

Comfy shoes

She feels herself – anew

Afloat in the Caribbean

She looks out at the sea

Wondering – is this why they brought me?

Her friends are still in the casino

She left them there an hour ago

Surely they won the poker game

Because she was there to distract the other key player by her beauty

She didn’t realize before that it was all so snooty

She looked across the deck

Out here the air was warm

It was dark

She felt a restless stirring in her heart

No one could see her here

She had nothing to offer

A thought sprung in her head and nothing could stop her

Mountains and islands were surely nearby

She didn’t want to die

She climbed over the rail

The ship in sail

She plunged into the water below

It was not as cold as she’d thought

She treaded water then started to swim away

A small boat paddled up then someone said “hey!”

It was a man from among her “friends”

He shined a light on her

He paddled over and told her to get in

He wrapped her in a blanket once she got in his boat

He told her, “I’ve been reading your notes.

I’ve been undercover

Don’t you worry about another expedition like this”

They paddled away to an island

She was covered in sand and seaweed

The man told her, “You’re wonderful and you have been redeemed.

Eat and drink

Here are your new clothes.”

He took off

She felt covered

Palm trees and sand

“No one knows me,” she said.

“This is wonderful.”

But she got lonely after a while

She corresponded with the man who rescued her

One day his boat came back and he stayed

She was happy and he was too

Their friendship grew

They spent their time sailing the seas

Playing poker and other cards

Among the tourists

Under the stars

The Caribbean Casino flourished

The girl valued, the man uncovered

They abandoned the old crowd

Embraced now

They built a dynasty

She loved him, he loved her

They grew quite wealthy

In the casino

Afloat the Caribbean sea