Is this what you want?
he asked.
and I said yes.
so he took his skin off for me
It happened just before dinner
I'd bought a fresh cut of lamb for a recipe I wanted to try
he always liked it when I cooked
I could see everything
he was beautiful
some things were no different
lovemaking, for example, was the same
just two people showing each other what they really look like...
but of course, some things were new
the sheets needed to be washed each day
they took in the smells of his open body and released them long after he'd gone to work
I had to clean the house more often too
a few hours a day if I could
it was the least I could do
at night he'd get cold so easily
I'd say to him, 'at least it's not winter yet'
and we'd smile...
but we both knew it was coming
I tried to be understanding, but me? I was boiling
and gas didn't come cheap
he said he wasn't having much luck with clients
I told him they were the wrong clients
the right clients won't care, I said
the right clients will understand
he said we'd run out of money if we waited for the right ones
I said he'd figure it out
some of his old friends came by
they asked him about his skin
just the normal questions you would ask
do you miss it?
does it hurt?
he'd answer yes, or he'd answer no.
simple answers
it was unlike him
he loved words
loved to use many when a few would suffice
but either he had less to say now
or he felt he was already saying it