The long exhale

After a very long silence
A laugh
— What?
– I just realised something… anyway it’s stupid.
Pause
— OK.
The sensation of small pressures against the bare skin of the back
– Mmmm.
And again
– It’s that.
Eyelashes against the skin
— What?
Open eyes in the darkness
Inhale through the nose
Push down against the bed
Turn
Sink and shuffle down until faces meet
Eyes
The point of the nose
Lips
– Something you said ages and ages ago.
Press forward against the sternum
Lips
– Don’t… you’ll distract me.
— I want to distract you.
Inhale through the teeth
Then lips together
– Mmm.
Tip of the tongue and a cold, brief touch of moisture
– I’m trying to tell you a story.
Pressing of teeth
The beginning of a laugh at the end of the exhale
— I’m telling you a story.
Hand over the midriff
Across the ribs and to the centre of the back
Fingers pressed to the vertebrae
Smoothly up to the neck
The beginnings of hair
– No that’s it.
Moving down
Lips above the navel
Contracting
Expanding with the breath
– Something you said about language.
Then laughter
The flexing of the back and stomach
Fingers and arms, a brushing sigh across skin
The smallest of voices
– Where are you going?
— Everywhere.
Arching of the back
Eyes lax
And the long exhale