They liked themselves. Sitting, he thought, watching her. I want you to know, draws some desire to be with you, I like you. and She didn’t want the orange segment extended in his hand, the end of a warm gesture, a gift. and He had left outside, didn’t explain but waved through the windowpane. Sitting, No. Everything wouldn’t change. if you knew. But, she said in his mind, What is a relationship? anyway. Made space. This, ballooned in the stillness a big question, became a reason, and fell. They liked each other, and they often sat in the same room. with themselves.
December 1971