Like Matches
- Caitlin-Scarlett

The stars are bright tonight she told me
But when I looked they disappeared
I looked for them and said, “They’re gone for me”
She touched my face
She stroked my hair
She soothed my voice and
Closed my mouth with hers.
The ocean lapped against our legs
Curdling in the heat
We laughed at the salt between our toes
Tasted it behind my ears
She said it made my sweetness shine
I told her I didn’t need that sugar
To touch my lips to hers.
She swore she’d never leave me
Told me that the world was ours
She let me hold it in my hand
I watched it turn
I watched it light and dark and in-between
She told me that it’d stay forever
Between her heart and mine.
Forever came with tomorrow
The day fresh with the smell of salt and smoke
Glorious and fading fast
Like matches lit for incense
Smoking
Dissipating
Given over for my throat to choke.
I held her till the bleeding stopped
Till tears fell and dried
Her heart was strong
Her will was iron
But her mind blinked off
Our world crashed into mine.