to keep their fears at bay; I tuck these moments away.

He ran his fingers over my hand until he found the spaces
between my own and rested.
We sat in his old car for two hours as I fell half asleep.
He pressed his nose to my cheek, then his forehead to my temple.

He told me that I was important, kind, and smart.
talented,
pretty.
Special
and lovely.
unique and priceless.
Wonderful, fantastic, and good.

each adjective tucked in between silent breath, thought, and touch.
The words broke and twisted the air as they lit up memories of
tightly woven conversations.
 Letters and poems,
 buzzing phones,
and bright computer scenes.

He looked as though he were much older.
Tired, as though he'd been restless for years.


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