Member-only story
Before
A poem
It was hard not to notice the gaze in your eyes,
wantonly looking towards the
illuminated notification on your phone
as we ate chicken parmesan too plain
for my taste, too right for yours. Your hidden
smile teased me, made me want it for myself,
implored me to excavate the fine crevices
of your rosy lips
and find the connection
that I’ve long
desired.
Clink, clink, in rhythmic motion did
my fantasies take me to a world beyond
the dilapidated windows of my
home, the fork slowly but carefully
twirling the spaghetti to reach a mass
sufficient for slurping, for hearing
the beautiful sound of pasta and
tomato sauce pressing against
your teeth, your tongue, your
pearly whites that would dare
not entertain
even a yellow
stain.
It was then that you looked
at me with pleading eyes,
like I held an answer
to a question I’d…
