Private Piece of Heaven
I was late for work today
and it’s all your fault.
the tension between us
has always been tangible—
humid,
heavy,
hanging like a thick fog,
lingering to our clothes
like a smoke
only you and i can smell.
           we feel it every time we’re in a room together
you once said.
so when you came to me
and announced
          i got us a room,
it didn’t surprise me.
           so we’re finally going to do this?
           no,
you answered
           not for sex.
it’s a room we can escape to.
my brows furrowed involuntarily
           you got a room
with a king-sized bed,
           but don’t want to seal the deal?
again you replied,
           no,
           i want a space for us
just me
and you.
we went to a room
at a hotel I can’t remember
because it was looked just as anonymous
as all the others:
cream walls
white sheets
green, black-out curtains.
          here it is:
our private piece of heaven.
We ordered take out
from a little Asian restaurant down the street.
I’d never heard of it,
but you swore
           i’ve been here a few times,
           it’s fucking amazing.
As I sampled each dish,
I moaned in pleasure.
          you were right:
this is incredible.
you brought out supplies
for gin and tonics—
           bartender,
i joked as you put ice in my paper cup
           i’ll have what he’s having,
but hold the gin.
you laughed as you filled it to the brim
and squeezed a bit of lime.
           cheers to us,
we toasted.
as we curled up on top of the comforter,
you pulled out a book.
           you’re going to love this novel.
i leaned into your chest
you held the book in front of us,
the silence as we read
broken every few minutes
when you’d ask
           ready to turn the page?
we devoured the novel
in a few hours—
and as we turned the final page,
i felt a tear in the corner of my eye.
          you were right:
that book was beautiful.
i picked out
my favorite david lynch film.
           nobody gets why i love this,
           but i think you will.
after the credits rolled,
we spent an hour
comparing thoughts and theories.
you grinned, saying
           you were right,
           great movie choice.
all night long,
we talked,
we read,
we kissed,
we dozed,
we laughed.
and laying in your arms,
i watched the sun rise
through the small crack
in those green, black-out curtains.
           this is like a dream,
you said.
You were right.
My alarm went off,
and I reached out to slap “snooze”
without even opening my eyes,
hoping I could easily slip back
into that dreamy time
that fantasy space
where it was
us
you
me
           just me
           and you
but no matter how hard I tried
the dream had slipped away.
           There it goes.
           Our private piece of heaven.









