he still has an hour drive back
so he doesn’t stay long and
I have to bribe Anna with
a trip to the mall
to convince her to leave
him alone long enough
so that I can say good-bye

we sit on top of the split rail fence that
runs along the driveway
Balancing my body atop the
fence is much easier than
balancing my heart.

I’m afraid I already care too much

I have learned new things about him
he has seen my house,
met my family
and now there is no going back
and we are suddenly going down a road
that is unfamiliar
without a map
or anything else to guide us.

perhaps he feels this too, because he is quiet
for a bit, staring up through the trees to the
darkening sky, watching the horses
graze in the field across from us.

close enough for me to feel scared
far enough away for me to feel safe