Sometimes when we kissed
he would smile.

I could tell.

I felt his lips spread as my lips touched his teeth
but only for a split second.

He would immediately stop.
Like he was genuinely happy for a moment
before he snapped back into reality.

But why?

I wanted him to keep smiling.
He had the most beautiful smile.
Whatever he was thinking that brought that smile to his face,
well, I wanted him to keep thinking of that.
Even if it was false hope.
But really, what is false hope?
You don't know a lie until you know the truth
, and there was no way to know the truth.
It was lost in the midst of us.
In the midst of our smiles.

And I didn't want to find it.

~pw