in this poem I remember how it happened
how the sky broke over our backs and
how we kissed the rain instead of each other

we live in this story
because I know of no other place to put us
except fiction

we belong here

in this poem all the pieces come back together the way they got undone
in this poem you and I become whole again

I'm keeping this promise to you
even if you forgot about it
and I know you did

and I know you also forgot my birthday
or my number
whichever hurts less when I have to explain that you didn't call on my 18th

in this poem I finally understand
you cannot fill a body riddled with holes
you cannot love a heart that beats for another

in this poem I lie about the way we touched each other
in this poem I tell myself it went deeper than skin

I did not know how to fix you
and in this poem I apologize for it

in this poem I pretend you loved me back
but only in this poem