Dreg Queen

11:53, and it all went south
I remember the moment precisely
The night drained my glass, puffed out my chest
And returned an old smile
And then, a rom-com by numbers jukebox needle-drop
A classic banger we hadn't heard in years
It was all we needed

Raise up your dead, lay down your love
We'll cut right through this city
We are ungrown, we are reloved

Back in the day, I called him the dreg queen
I don't think he ever left single drink behind
And he wore the weather so well
He looked to me like he'd fallen straight
From the folds of a dog-eared love letter
When he took my hands

Hold onto me, let go your love
Let's cut right through this city
We are ungrown, we are reloved
And the clocks can't stop us
Remember when, forget your faith
We'll dance right through this city
We'll sink so low, we'll rise above

Tell her you'll be late, he said
Tell her you need some me time
Tell her you feel obliged to cheer up your frowny-faced friend
Tell her it's a full moon and you just need to howl
Tell her you need answers that only the night can give
Tell her you were bitten by a sparkling vampire
Who introduced you to an unseen, underground world of wonders
Where the lights burn brighter and music has hands that can heal

8:46, and I was heading home
Parents took their children's hands as I approached
Strangers on buses gave silent applause
It was cold along the river and the taxis wouldn't stop
I had no money anyway