"I'll see you," I said
avoiding eye contact
as she took my words
like a forest fire to her
tree trunk heart.

Every ring of us
burnt to ash as
cooked tears
collected on her lips
like maple syrup
from all of our breakfasts in bed.

I felt my breath breaking
her limbs and I
am in limbo
lost
in my options:

Face the flame
and watch her
burn or turn
around and
just have heat on my back.

"I'll see you," I said.