i loved to
d      r     a      g

on my cigarette,
the way you
d      r       a      g     g      e      d
out your syllables.

and i loved to

i    n  h a    l  e

your promises
like you

i    n h a   l e d
my perfume,
so close to me that
our ribcages melded.

i want you to love me,
but i know that this might
just be me
e xhal ing him.

and you might be  
a f r a i d
to i      n      h      a      l       e
her any longer.

but i will keep holding on
even if my fingers burn
on the embers.
and even if my lungs collapse
from loving you too much.