When I was 13 I read
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
And have been obsessed with math since

Flirt
But not too much
Laugh
But not too loud
Tease
But not too mean
Touch
But not too long
Smile
But not too hard

Dance naked up by the Hollywood sign
Red carpet glitz
Make out at rock concerts
Family holidays
Impulsive matching tattoos
Annual Nutcracker ballet
Vaping and Long Islands
Sunday morning cuddles
Scratches and hickeys
Blanket and pillow forts

Have you not realized that
The butterflies are there
To make you lose
Your ******* mind

Imagery swirls around my mind
Of beautiful stormy skyscapes
Hiding out under covers from the torrent
The glow of young love burning in your
Oceans of graces
Laughter sings in the air thick
With hope and where-have-you-been-all-my-life
Everything in my heart screams
How perfect it all
Would
Be

Sparkling glass beads of water
Drip from her body
Glowing in the incandescent gold
She traces herself in the mirror
Going over all the parts she hates
Until she sees what he does
Gorgeous

.

Even in the space of silence
We say so much
And pick right back up
Like no time has passed