Whatever Your Heart Desires Part 6

In our case, we just made a stupid mistake. The mistake was not that we had loved, trusted and had faith in each other in the first place. The mistake was, we lost sight of those things and quit trying. Perhaps it really had been just an illusion, a bit of parlor magic, as she had always claimed. In time, the smoke dissipates and the mirrors crack. The house lights come up. Then, you are faced with the real world; a bed you no longer share in a home no longer yours. Therein dwells a heart that has moved on. 'This way to the Egress. Watch your step.' It's cold out there, once the warmth is gone. You may find warmth again, sometime, somewhere. If not, the memory of it can warm you, too – just not as well."

There was more of course; the lives, the dreams of so many. Their lives were about illusion, lived on the edge, one day at a time. Illusion was their reality, and Reality an illusion. They avoided the 'real world' as vampires avoided the light; both burned body and soul. In the end, dreams would be dashed, lives would be crushed and discarded by almighty 'Family Values'. Society could be cruel if you were perceived to be 'different'.

Danni described the club scene in detail. In their illusory existence, it was the focal point and sometime defining factor in their social order. As in any other society, there was a caste system which defined the individual's place in the hierarchy. From her rich depictions and characterizations, I had no doubt she was describing Eve's Rib. I don't know why I never pictured her going there. After our experiences, I just always envisioned her going to 'straight' clubs. I realized that was my prejudice talking. As she described in her book, the so-called 'straight' clubs could, in fact, be a death trap for any T-girl who was 'read' – found out – even one as beautiful as Danielle. Sometimes, it came down to a matter of hooking up with the wrong guy, or how drunk he was at the time. Any girl could identify with that.