Listless lovers under the covers, turned away from one another

They were knotted together as soon as their heart strings brushed

The fire that was dancing on the sheets simmering to a small ember

Eyes cast to the walls while ardent fingers pick at their unkempt bind

Shadows that once crossed merrily cower in the corner of the room

They wait patiently for one to grab the scissors off the bedside table

And to cut the tangled strands.

i don't know if i'm feeling everything
at once or if i'm not feeling anything
at all

Someone once asked me
To describe how it felt
To be in love

And I found myself describing
How it felt to be
With you

Remember how I'd smoke after school
outside your classroom window
watching you pack up your briefcase,
pulling your arms through your blazer sleeves?
Four cigarettes in a ring
between my thumb and fingertips,

an "okay" sign.
You preferred jean dresses with the hips cut out,
knee-high fishnet socks,
my hair wrapped curiously in bandana red
with my eyes outlined in black.

I stole condoms and Twinkies,
brought them to your apartment
after you'd call to unwrap me

like penny candy
on the mattress in the middle of your floor,
each tear in synch with the teeth
of your zipper releasing.

A green wrapper
and an empty trash can
next to my book bag.
You licked your fingers
after the last bite.

Angry people are just people;
People that were sad too long.

Bitter people are just people;
People that were angry too long.

Spiteful people are just people;
People that were bitter too long.

Hello.
You already told me that.
You're so pretty I kind of hate you for it.
Stop talking.
I don't care.
Do you wanna hang out?
I miss you.
Please don't go.
I'm sick of crying over you.
Is it something I said?
You're just like my father.
Sorry.
What do you want me to do?
You're mean.
I thought you'd call.
What you said kept me up all night.
I'd rather you didn't do that.
You're good at hurting me.
What happened?
I don't believe you.
I hate you.
Leave me alone.
Stop.
Goodbye.

"I wish we could have came into each other's lives
at a better time for me."
Because that's how things work.
It's all about timing,
and you ran the clock.

*** alarm,
wake up call.
I didn't even take my shoes off.

You talk so loud but you never say a thing.
Just push me against car doors
in the parking lot outside your apartment
with the lamppost's reflection blurring
on the rain covered pavement,
a ***** mirror
smearing our shadows together.

I yell but you only answer
with the breath from your open mouth
as you kiss the frustration out of me—
suffocation.
Your tongue speaks a language
only I thought I knew.

Turns out she did, too.