the cheetah and the queen

she laid there

with a body of mystery and magic.

her protector,

a fierce, guarded cheetah.

majestic as all the story books describe.

unstoppable together..

the embodiment of masculine and feminine.

where she lacks, he thrives.

where he's absent, she radiates.

an unspoken bond of beauty and organic chemistry.

he was her protector, guardian of the night.

eternally on purpose.

"why" she always wondered.

but never held the thought long enough to dive into it.

the balance was everything nature had hopes for.

until he was taken away.

ripped from her throne.

a deathly day.

she was sicken.

fearful.

disgusted.

how could she live?

she couldn't

simply could not.

she laid down,

her eyes carrying more water than the river outside her palace window.

there he was.

standing on the balcony's ledge.

brighter than she had ever seen him before.

she ran.

breathless.

her heart was pulsating through her eyes,

more joy than ever.

this absent expanded her appreciation.

she was in shock that was even possible.

"off i go" he said.

her initial response was to fight the statement,

but listening to her heart,

she knew this was destiny.

she laid her face into his,

as he purred and she giggled.

"you know where to find me"

as he pushed his paw into her heart.

a final tear shed, as she lifted her hand to her heart.

and watched him dissipate into the starry night,

back to his home,

among the cosmos.