hold me close and tighter than you dare
i’m coming apart at the seams
but don’t ask me if i’m okay because i will only lie to you
even as my face betrays my mouth and you make it clear that you aren’t convinced, i will carry on lying with oddly pronounced vehemence
embrace me until it hurts
squeeze until you fear we’ll break
while i slowly disintegrate in your grasp
hold me together and let me cry until i can’t speak
until i can scarcely breathe
until i am too exhausted to move
feign sleep with me for a while
until you’re carried off by slumber’s slowly receding tide
because you’re exhausted too
your breathing changing almost imperceptibly with me still in your arms
as repose slowly loosens your hold
while i fall asleep much like i fell in love with you
in bits and pieces until, suddenly, it is upon me