Fallout (Crank 3)

And then

somewhere, music. Loud.

Incubus? Oh, my cell. The first

thing I think, as I part the clouds

of semi-sleep, is: better not be Leah!

And then

as the mist dissipates, I remember

it’s Christmas Day, and I am on

a mission. Besides winning

Nikki back, that is.

And then

I pull Nikki tighter against me.

Have I won her back? Can it

really be so? I kiss her awake.

“I have something for you.”

And then

I reach over the side of the bed,

find my jeans. Extract the shiny

red box from one pocket, dismissing

the phone in the other pocket.

And then

I tell her, “Merry Christmas,”

all hot and wobbly inside, like

I’m the one getting the present.

She sits up into slanted sunlight.

And now

My angel smiles, lingers over

the shimmery gold bow. Slits

open the tape, carefully unfolds

the foil. I love little presents.