Women I've Loved: S-.

We were young. We laughed

and sang and we slept

in each other’s homes.

Camera snapped in our

direction, glasses

cradled reflection;

White Bear and Snowy

held proud on display

for our future selves

to weep over. One

summer, near our end,

I became woman

on your sheets. Stained red,

nearly caught on my

way out. It was all

new, then. Now, winter,

we play in empty

rooms at the new house.

Your breath hot on my

neck, my eyes rest shut,

I can feel the heat

somewhere else, where I

shouldn’t. Another

week, we’re on my floor,

horizontal, you

say, ‘I can’t hold it

in anymore, but

it will ruin us.’

I hate you for not

being straight with me.

If it’s really that

bad then I need to

know. Tell me. Tell me.