Her eyes are gleaming as if
she is seeing everything for
the first time. He rubs his
thumb across hers and
licks parched lips
and he can taste her
excitement as she sees
the choir make their
way across the stage.
Their voices echo, angelic
and wavering, his
body moves with the
sound, his eyes always
on her. He can see past
her frail and aging skin, into the
essence of her- the girl
who waited patiently by the
roadside with numbing fingers
beneath ruby gloves of silk
standing tall and proud
upon the snow-dusted asphalt
as her soldier was returned to her embrace.
The photo he had kissed goodnight
every evening folded
neatly in his left coat pocket.
His arms wrapped around her
waist, and her eyes gleamed
as if she were seeing
everything for the first time.