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
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 had gone to work
I had to clean the house more often
A few hours a day if I could
It was the least I could do
At night he got cold so easily
I'd say to him, at least it's not winter
And we would smile
But we both knew it was coming
I tried to be understanding, but I was boiling.
And gas isn't cheap
He said he wasn't having luck with clients
I said 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 only 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 normal questions you would ask
do you miss it?
does it hurt?
he'd answer yes or no
simple answers
it was unlike him
he loved words
loved to use many when a few was enough
but either he had less to say now
or he felt he was already saying it