Mary & James sat in silence. Thoughts louder than both their beating
hearts.
“I love him,” Mary knew. “But it isn't enough.
“I love her,” James knew. But it isn't enough.
They looked at each other & on the count of three, held
their breaths.
The years passed grew stale as their inhaled breaths. The
silence pierced their ears.
They wanted to speak but they couldn't.
They wanted to
breath but they couldn't.
James wanted to breathe in her hair. The sweet smell of
strawberries & cream that wafted through the air at the slightest breeze.
Mary wanted to breathe in his hair. The sharp smell of his
skin after a day in the fields, the smell of his fingers as they fluttered down
her face and traced patterns on her skin.
They wanted to breathe.
But they couldn't.
The silence grew louder and their heartbeats grew mute
until all that was left were the unspoken words that floated through the air
and gently landed on the palms of their hands.
“On 3…”
“1…”thought James
“2…” Mary looked at him, eyes glazed over with the unwavering
loom of a hundred heavy swirling clouds.
Their eyes closed.
“3.”
