An Afternoon Stay

Steady rain in the trees.
A soft percussion
of water against the leaves.

​

A candle casts a warm glow,
amber and cedar
lingering in the room.

​

Laughter.
Witty banter.

​

A smile
that makes my heart hesitate.

​

Two souls
carrying old wounds.

​

Outside,
the rain keeps
its patient rhythm.

​

Inside,
conversation wanders.

​

Stories unfold.

​

Silence settles between us.
Neither of us
reaches to fill it.

​

No one asks the other
to be anything else.

​

The candle burns lower.

​

The rain continues.

​

And for a little while,
neither of us
has anywhere else to be.