I will never forget

the temperature of the air

on that day. Or that you

didn’t have a beard

when I was expecting you would.

I hugged you out of nervousness—

            what is etiquette?!

The word surprise ricocheted

in my stomach, pretending it was

butterflies.

If I could have known then

what I know now, I wouldn’t

hesitate—

            but when has love

            ever made a person smarter?

Now I just go

and sit in a house I don’t believe in

and do work in the same room

as another human, share a bed

with him to spite myself.

Maybe I’ll write about this

for insincerity.