happily married.

03/02/2009

he sits on an ironic loveseat
she sits on the arm of the armchair
and her foot taps against the side
it taps and taps and taps
the ice clinks in his glass
"would you like some soda?"
her voice is all resigned sigh
he shakes his head and sips
liquor potent on his lips
her tapping is more potent
her hands cross at her hips
he takes up the whole loveseat
just him, the man, and his glass,
and some room for the chip on his shoulder.
the mark of lipstick moves
in place of where her mouth once was
lipstick came in to replace him
it brings a little more colour to her face
and it certainly outlasts him.
she wonders why he needs the whole loveseat
perhaps he's pretending someone else is there
like last night and the night before
she twitches, anxious at the thought,
her foot taps and taps against the side
releasing the thoughts she tries to hide
there's breaths sharper than normal
he exhales loudly like he's about to rise
he cannot stand, she cannot fall
hands shake as she stands for him
she brings the biggest bottle over
and rather than just pour him another
she places it in front of him on the table
he looks at her and begins to think
perhaps he'll will her to be someone else
her lipstick quivers like she can read his mind
and she pours the amber liquid.
she sits back down hard on the arm of the armchair
questioning why she should bother to serve him
when she clearly doesn't match up to competition
he takes a long swig and makes a decision
her chest hurts from reminding herself not to kiss him.
his eyes glaze over and he feels content
she's rubbing her back where her spine should have been
"why do you perch there, what do you want"
it comes out less like a question, and more like a taunt
and if her smile had a tone
it would be sarcastic
as she shakes her head and lights a cigarette
he lets the glass drop onto the floor and shatter
and he stretches across his claimed loveseat.
she leaves the room and does not return to clean
she sits in the hallway outside and taps her feet
waiting for him to rise in the morning and step on the glass.