Sara

laughs when i say the "h" is extraneous.

i watch as she decorates a cookie
green with purple icing,
swirling ties that shift
with a small flick of her wrist.

he says, "it's very asian."

behind a self deprecating smile
she replies "exactly as planned".

she can't know
the choice she made
two years ago
shifted my universe
completely,

set me here

watching intently -


i have cultivated
an apathetic manner
for moments such as these.

she hands over hot apple cider,
keeps whiskey and water,
as i paint a lopsided
christmas tree a purple stump,
green leaves, adding a fudged star,
and little gingerbread men
all too small for the scene.

not exactly the
styling i was going for
but i was distracted
as i am

watching

this
ethereal woman
i've never met
in my dreams.