NOW I SWEAR
I didn’t have running in mind
as I slipped outside, sprinted
along the sidewalk to where
Kyle had parked. It still was
not my goal when I jerked open
the pickup door, bounded
into Kyle’s arms. Hadn’t even
considered the idea when I buried
my face into his chest, inhaled
his well-loved scent, turned up
my eyes, begging him to kiss me.
But when our lips met, starved,
something stirred. And when
his skin flowed like a warm tide
over my own, whatever had stirred
whipped up, crazy. And when
our bodies linked, woven in
heated rise and fall, every tatter
of loneliness dissipated into
the ether of memory. And then
he said, Oh my God, I love you
so much. I can’t be without you
ever again. Come with me,
Summer. Let’s get out of here.
NOT MUCH TIME
To think it over. Still,
my first reaction was, “I can’t.”
Yes, you can, he said. I need
you. Don’t you understand?