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