you can taste the pain I swallowed on the roof of my mouth
I remember the night covering us like a blanket
and the sun shining light to all of our mistakes
I remember your shirt hanging off my shoulder
and the way it looked on another naive stranger, she wore it well
I remember the scent it carried, the scent of you and me
who am I without this longing that wears the shape of you?

"Where are you?" I asked.
"Existing between stanzas." You simply replied.
I never asked what it meant,
And I still think about it 'til today.
But I never thought to look it up,
Because little do I know,
You never wanted me to.

He sees me.
The stranger looks deep,
deeper Into me
than I see myself and analyse and care to critique the way
that I'm conducting myself.
He's harsh with his eyes
but
He doesn't know me.
scrutinizing every pore
every hair that stands in place,
every conscious thought and un-thought.
He thinks he doesn't
But he does.


Like a whirlpool of judgement that swirls in a silver reflection, I stare at the man that stares at me.
he seems familiar and now I judge him.
the table turns to see myself
staring at this silvery
this...
this...
Imposter
that
I think
that
I know.

We’ve connected.
It was hard, emotional, awkward, weird.
But it’s a start.
You attacked.
You were defensive.
But we connected.
It’s a start.
A stranger, of 33 years.
A stranger, who’s part of my DNA.
A stranger.
But it’s a start.