He's walking up the stairs, slowly.

I can hear every slender step, though
I'm sure he believes I can't. My
breath quickens ever so slightly.

It's late and he must think I'm fast
asleep. He reaches the top of the
stairs and stops. And my heart stops
with him. I float for a moment on
our soft sheets. He walks to the
room and opens the door, carefully.

The gentle carefulness of someone
who truly cares. Someone who'd watch
over me as I slept, breathing every
soft breath. He takes off his shirt
and his pants and crawls in beside
me. He kisses me on the shoulder a
goodnight kiss, blown by the sandman
for all my dreams. But I'm awake so
I whisper to him, reaching out in
the dark to feel his face, his beard,
his lips. And he reaches into darkness
to feel me. To feel my furry cheeks,
down to my chest to stroke the hair
and flesh, digging into my heart. I
kiss him. He kisses me back. And I
know he is happy.


-
Aleksander Mielnikow