“I Loved You In Secret…

Taylor is known to pay attention to the smallest details to send the right message. Is it possible that the message she wants to send our way completely went over our heads?

Let’s talk about the END GAME video. She laid out multiple tells about an unspoken truth for people to assume, but what if she also gave us the end of her game of hide and go seek with her most precious easter egg, her truth.

There is no coincidence, she carefully staged two fleeting scenes that reveals her muse. If you look closer, the girl in black is exactly placed in the same position as the black cat.

Both eyes on her.

There’s an undeniable theme that Reputation exhumes: A love so dark yet pure that she cannot resist but to bask in.

Now, let’s digest the two scenes so we could better understand how relevant this is to the narrative so far.

There are two things the two subjects in the back has in common:

Being a figure of darkness; both are observed as being covered in black. Why is this relevant? Darkness is a tool for concealment. The absence of light provides an unbeatable cover for the truth. Calculated movements, unnoticed touches, stolen glances and hidden truth all dwell in the dark shadows of night. This affair is a secret.

Here are lyrics to support this:

“No one has to know”

“Our secret moments in a crowded room

They got no idea about me and you(…)

Everyone thinks that they know us

But they know nothing about—…”

“I loved you in secret…

Picture of your face in an invisible locket”

“Something happened for the first time

In the darkest little paradise”

They are both looking at her. Regardless of ones reason or intention to stare, one thing is undeniable, there is an underlying need; an unspoken wanting. Her lover wants her as much as she does. The whole album makes us aware of how intense the attraction Taylor feels for her lover and the silent gaze proves that the attraction is mutual.

Let’s now focus our attention to the Cat.

Generally, cats are perceived as fluffy, adorable, silly and sometimes grumpy animals. But that isn’t what Taylor wants us to see. She specifically chosen a BLACK CAT to stand in as her lover in the dark.

A simple google search will give you an idea of a Black Cat’s Reputation: Superstition, prejudice, bringer of good or bad luck.

Superstition - a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences. of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.

Prejudice - preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Given these definitions, we arrive to an understanding that their affair is hidden because of people’s unjustified beliefs and preconceived opinions about their love.

But, what’s beautiful is that the black cat also symbolizes that Taylor is aware that choosing to be with her lover can either help her reach the pinnacle of success or cause her to lose her balance and succumb to her downfall. Good luck or bad luck.

And she still took the risk.

See you in the dark

She hid her in plain sight,

She used a cat to make us wonder.

Now we see her in the light,

We see that she is indeed her lover.

Come here, dressed in black now

Scratches down her back now

All eyes on you, my magician

All eyes on me,

Your illusionist.

P. S. The black cat’s eyes are green.