you exist in the clothes you left hanging on the rack of my closet,
stolen by the hands of a desperate girl trying to remember her boyfriend;
she's bottling up his scent and says it is the most intoxicating perfume ever made.
you exist in the(your) left side of my bed in between
the rumpled sheets and the indent that reminds me that
your head once laid there.
you exist in the mug you used to drink your tea in
which is now well-acquainted with my lips
and of bitter coffee. you exist
in my hands, now empty without yours to hold and in my fingertips
ablaze with memories of it running through your hair.
YOU EXIST IN EVERY THOUGHT THAT EVER PASSED MY MIND
AND EVERY BEAT MY HEART COULD CREATE. YOU EXIST IN MY VEINS AND IN THE KNOTS
MY STOMACH MAKES AT THE SIGHT OF YOU.
YOU EXIST IN EVERY BREATH I TAKE AND EVERY WORD I SAY.
YOU EXIST. YOU EXIST. YOU EXIST.
Oh, but how I wish you didn't.

m.j.