We met on the stairs of a church

Getting chased by the police

“You disrespectful skaters!”

We held hands

The wind carrying our carefree laughter

We were invincible

Together

You whispered

“I love you”

and I only nodded back

Because some part of me knew it couldn't be true

That night you snuck into my bedroom

I covered my face with a pillow to

Mask the screams

Of pain, of pleasure, of uncertainty

The next day you didn't call like you promised

But it was OK because I wasn't waiting by the phone

Three weeks later I skated up to

You and told you

You'd be a daddy if you didn't come up with $400, and soon

You said it wasn't your fault,

Said it must've been something else

I dragged you behind the vert and told you

You better have the money

You promised to close your bank account

And meet me at the same place in two days

In exactly that time we stood in the same place

You handed me an envelope

I checked its contents and leaned over towards you

Our bodies the closest they've been since that night

I whispered, I love you”

You nodded, not believing it

Two months later I saw you at a skate park

And you didn't even notice me, or my new

Four hundred dollar skates.

Amy K. Stauffer