Eighty

At fifteen, you said show me

Show me the prettiest pebble in the garden

I hunted five hours for pebbles that night

And finally found one I deemed worthy of your palm.

You looked at me like I'd gone insane

Then you kept the pebble. 

You smiled and it was all worth it again. 

Putting on your clothes in a hurry

As the sunlight fell in patches 

Across the soft skin on your collarbones.

When your four year old passed

You came to me, stone faced.

Show me, you said. 

And I showed you.

We sat together huddled 

By the light of the computer 

Adding a wrinkle here,

A grey hair there. 

Attempting to replicate age and life.

You wanted to see her age.

We watched her turn 5, then 15 and

Then 50. At 80, you smiled.

I let the tears flow down your cheek.

I have always loved you from afar.

We made love that day, once again 

And I watched the sunlight kiss you again.

This is a sad story. There is no other story.

You handed me the blade.

Show me, you said.