Tell Me You Love Me

I kissed her on the cheek.

I knew I was too old for her.
She knew I was too old for her.

Her scent married salt and patchouli.
The tiny hairs on her arms shimmered
in the fan’s restless light.

Tanned skin.
A heart-shaped tattoo above her ankle.
A blue bandana.

Freckles mapped the curve of her lips.
I gazed at her.
She felt it, even with her eyes closed.

“Sebastian.”

She broke the silence.

The fan above us hummed
like time holding its breath.

Only now did I notice
how long our silence had lasted.

“Tell me you love me.”

“Only if you do.”

“I don’t love you, Sebastian.
You know I don’t.

I just want to be with you.”

“I’m old.”

“Only compared to me.”

She opened her eyes.

And kissed me on the cheek
like it was the only place
we hadn’t already broken.

.