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