He liked surprising her
Catching her off guard
He thought to himself
That one day
Maybe not this Monday
They should give him an award
“You have that look on your face.
You just thought of a dumb joke
Didn’t you?”
He feigned hurt
After she spoke
“Many folks
Would laugh at those words
But I guess you don’t observe
High comedy.”
“Absurd
And aren’t you supposed to be at work.”
“Long lunch.
Thought you could use some company.”
“What did you bring for me?
I’m so hungry
I could eat Hungary.”
“Now whose jokes don’t provoke
Laughter.”
“Food first.
We’ll debate after.”
So he served her take out
Like a waiter
Anticipating
How long it would take her
But she was finished
Less than ten minutes later
He changed his mind about commenting
On how she’d inhale her
Food
“Stop looking at me like that.
I’m eating for two.… Continue reading

She awoke languidly
She heard that word somewhere before
She thought it fit her mood
Comfortably nude
Next to her
He was in a deep slumber
Light snore
She won’t wake him this time
That would be rude
Especially after last night
Well
It started yesterday evening
Maybe it was the quality of the food
Or the way he spoke
Or his eyes
Maybe the way he dressed
Or what he said
Most of it jests
Jokes
To keep her laughing
Or maybe it was his last words at the table
Maybe they said it best
“You’ll never have to worry.
There are no others.
Rest assured
I know your value
Your worth.
I know that I am blessed.
I know in the past small things grew
And split us apart
But this is now
Maturity
That was then
Youth.”
Remembering that part of the evening
She smiled
Looking down… Continue reading

She awoke early
He was usually the one
To do the early mornings
And late nights
But the last had been
An especially late night
Spent comforting her
Taking steps forward
Even if things
Weren’t fully made right
Besides
Her mother was coming early
And they
Meaning
He and her mother
Weren’t on the best of terms
Always only
Exchanging the best of words
Which was
Better than her father
Because actions were so cold
Not even acting
Would allow them
To exchange the best of verbs
So they had been
For a while now
Exchanging
The less of words
And some days
She couldn’t see
The point it served
With this knowledge
Letting him rest
Seemed like the path
Best observed
She let those thoughts go
Let them rest again
Looking forward to the short time freed
The things that might happen
What it meant
Etcetera
The rest and … Continue reading

He didn’t come home early yesterday
He wasn’t late
Either
Just a strange feeling
About it
Nerves
Maybe
But she still didn’t feel great
About it
She remembered the last time she had this feeling
She had ignored it for months
Leading to devastation
Months
Of healing
It shouldn’t hurt
She thought
To ask him this evening
But it had been early
When she got the text
He’d be late tonight
Alright
This shouldn’t be enough to start a fight
But she couldn’t sleep
Right away
She snapped awake
On the couch
When she heard a sound
That was more than the TV in the background
“Waiting for me?”
He asked her
That smile
Hadn’t been on his face in a while
Directed at her
Made her return it
“Maybe…”
But that didn’t change her question
“Why were –“
“I was talking to Truth.”
Her face twisted
Slightly
Thinking
“Truth … Continue reading

“Does she need a lover
Or a brother
Or maybe the figure of a father?
Does she love me
Enough to
Put me above her
Every other?
Is she using me to buffer
The feedback from her mother?
I mean…”
This even – ing
He was contemplating
The merits of going home
Was it home
Was it just a covering
He shared with other bodies
Where he wasn’t all alone
That’s when
He saw the number on the phone
“Truth.”
He was silent after the greeting
Truth spoke
Evoked
Memories
That made him say
“Nice to hear your voice.
It’s been a long time
And no
The choice wasn’t fully mine.”
Truth interrupted
Hearing the doubt in his wording
urging
him to change his verse and
“Of course.
You crossed my mind
Yesterday.
If I love her
That’s not something I’m supposed to say.
I was thinking
Because of that … Continue reading