Poker Face

The smooth green velvety covering. The tense crooked smiles that surround the table. A hand is dealt, the game begins. She holds a pair of dark regal men in her hand, a promising beginning. At the centre of the table a pile begins to form, money, the least valuable form of currency in the game. The betting begins with time, she willingly calls. A card is turned, a scarlet man appears. Her heart beats loudly and subsides as the stakes are raised. Pride is now on the table, with slight hesitation she follows suit. Every player checks. A second card is drawn, a single diamond, currently useless, she sees some faces fall across the table. Independence hangs in the balance now and a player folds. Reluctantly she places hers in the centre, surely this is a game worth playing to the end. Another raise is called, they're asking for her reputation. She concedes, and considers that, worst case scenario, she can always win it back. Before the round is over, two more fold. There are only two players left in this high stakes game. She draws in a breath as the last card is revealed, one lonely heart. As her confidence peaks and she hides a grin, she looks up to see a smirk on the face of her only remaining opponent. Good news all around. Eyes downcast on the lone heart, she checks, fingers crossed in her lap. She dares a glance upwards hoping to see his lips form the same simple word. Instead he slowly places another lonely heart on the table, and steadily meets her gaze. Her poker face returns with a vengeance as an inner war is waged. She was willing to risk everything but..... It was worth all except.... The only way she could make that call was if she could see the cards in his hand, an impossibility. She looks at what she's given up, she weighs her options carefully. Then, with the winning hand, she folds.