A necklace

The chain broke.
My silver heart flew across the room,
and my red one flew into my chest.
Chink-chink, bum-bum.

And we stared at each other.
Belts undone, lips red, eyes wide.
Bum-bum, bum-bum.

Well fuck, he said.
And stood up and bent down,
scuffling on the hardwood.
Thunk-thunk.

I’m really sorry, he said.
No worries, I said, panicking.
We scuffled on the hardwood.
Thunk-thunk, thunk-thunk.

Later, I’m sorry about your heart, he says.
Me too, I think.
It was yours, I say.
Bum-bum, bum-bum.

I love you, he apologizes.
Me too, I say, accepting it.
We kiss and my red one thumps harder.
Bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum.

I’ll find it, he says.
I know you will, I say.
I know you will.
But will you fix it? I wonder.
Can you fix it? I doubt.
Bum-bum.

And he puts us in the car and, slam-slam, drives.
And drives and drives.
And we laugh and touch and kiss.
Bum-bum.
But my sight is wavy, watery, salty.
He click-clicks and the car hushes.
Bum-bum.


You know I love you, right?
His eyes are blue today.
Yeah, I say, I know.
Bum-bum, bum-bum.

I’ll see you soon.
I nod, muted by a rebellious throat.
I promise, he says. I promise you.
Bum-bum.

Byedrivesafecallmeloveyou.
We wave.
Honk-honk!
Wave again.
He leaves.
Bum-bum.

I crumple.
I leak salt water.
My red one cracks.
And I leak salt water.
Bum-bum.