I wasn’t scared, sitting on the sofa

together when the movie was over,  

expecting to be more-or-less denied 

(accept that it might not be, and it might,

except it won't), in the distant-siren 

city-silence. No, I was terrified: 

Was my victimhood not quite black-and-white?

“You get me but can't have me,” she stated,

“must earn it,” but sooner than I told her,

“I told you yesterday that yesterday 

was long ago, and restaged kissings you 

goodnight were dutifully belated 

prayers,” she fell asleep. The very next

morning she’d aged ten years, beautifully.