The Step Between

It was there and I could feel it, 

the step between.  

I had sensed its presence before 

in moments of great fear or anxiety, 

but had not known what to do about it.  

I was not even sure what "it" was, 

but I knew it was 

the step between 

and I knew I needed to access it now.  

The hit was coming at high velocity 

to knock loose my soul.  

Time downshifted and 

put reality into a tailspin.  

That was when my foot found 

the step between 

and became a pivot point.  

I did not disappear so much 

as become inaccessible 

to the laws of cause and effect.  

I stepped into his anger 

and found a world of hurt 

coursing down through his extended arm, 

emanating from a fevered brain.  

What had we done to be in this situation?  

(What had been done to us?) 

I felt time telescoping back 

to the very moment 

of sinking our teeth 

into that hard cold apple 

of knowing instead of loving.

***