Jackie Maugh Robinson

Never Mind

Honeymoon. I lay in your arms watching the firelight play across your face. We're so new, there's more to figure out than to remember. I name what I love about us and start to number the ways our lives fit so perfectly together. You place two shushing fingers on my lips and kiss my cheek. The romantic moment is dispelled by your next words, "In high school I dissected a frog in biology class."

"Okay…but I don't understand what..."

You smile and caress my shoulder. "After I'd taken the frog apart, I knew all there was to know about it. But it wasn't a frog anymore."

I realize I'm holding my breath.

"That's why I don't need to understand what makes our love work. Leave my frog alone."

heartbeats
his watch missing
its second hand