In an Alternate Universe Where We Are Together

In an alternate universe where we are together,

I sit in the passenger seat of your car

and you tell me stories about your childhood.

I close my eyes and smile as I imagine you

curled up in a twin-sized bed,

running around your yard with a football,

blowing out birthday candles.

I wonder what you wished for back then.

I wonder if you've been careful and soft

your whole life.

. . .

In an alternate universe where we are together,

everything is yellow, like summer.

I cut your hair in the bathroom sink

and you remember to water the plants

and we hug barefoot in the kitchen.

We say "yes" to the things that scare us.

We clean up the mess together.

It's me, all starry-eyed and tender —

and you, overflowing with newfound emotion.

We're not in a hurry because in this universe,

we have time to swallow it all.

You throw away your empty water bottles

and I start running again.

There's a metaphor for everything these days.

(Nothing is senseless.)

. . .

In this universe, there's skin on skin,

laughing into each others' mouths –

tracing the lines on your chest –

gently touching my hair –

pressed up against your neck –

finally understanding why great wars were fought

over love.

It feels invincible.

In an alternate universe,

the party ends and I don't have to go home.

We say goodnight instead of goodbye.

We sleep on the same couch like little kids:

noses pressed together in the dark,

whispering about secret things

and confessing all the mistakes we've made.

I learn every insignificant detail about you

but this time around, vulnerability feels safe.

You tell me exactly how you feel because

this universe has no space for regret.

. . .

Now all my clothes are saturated

with bergamot and mint,

and I realize that I could spend the rest of my life

belonging to you.

It's got me thinking that maybe "home"

in this universe is not Bowling Green, KY.

I'm thinking home is wherever you are.

You know I'd follow you all the way out West,

but in an alternate universe where we end up together...

I ask you to stay.

And you do.