Giving of time

– There are so many things I want to ask you.
Inhale
Exhale
— I’m at work.
– Yes.
I can taste this fruit
Natural sweetness amplified
So different to being detached
The office murmurs
The sound of doors and the security releases
– This weekend, you’ll be away.
Eyebrows
– As in away from your things.
— Yes.
– It will mean handwriting mostly, well, there is your brother-in-law’s laptop…
— I can write. By hand. If you wish.
Blink
– No.
Inhale
– That’s fine.
Exhale
The sound of the air-conditioner intake
The movement of cold air
– I just want to talk.
And I would set aside everything now
– You don’t have to do that. Besides it’s far too hot outside.
The mechanisms of movement
Application of force
The lifting of the hand
Lowering
Fingers around the fruit
Application of force and lift to the mouth
She turns her head slightly
By the jar of pens there is a glass of water
I hear her think
– These things I learn about you.
— Or are teaching me.
I suggest
Eyebrows
– Hardly.
I would give it to her
My entire life
To do with what she wills
– I’m not sure I’d be terribly good at it.
— I’m good at it?
– Better than you think. Even if it’s by accident.
And I feel gratified with her familiarity
Our dialect
I think
— Private dialects.
And she stares at me
Application of force
Slow muscle flex
Reach for the glass
Lift
The cool liquid through the throat
Settling down in the sternum
Spreading through the chest
– I’m going to go, but if you have coffee today I’ll come back.
Alright
– I’ll wait for you. Tonight before you settle for the night, and tomorrow after you pick up the lemons for your sister.
Alright
– Think slowly today. I think it would be… can I say good?
— Say whatever you like.
– You know what I mean.
Inhale
Exhale
— Say good then. Yes.
Blink
— Yes it would be good.
Stare
Then the shifting of weight
Body rising against the force of gravity
Exit