In Another Timeline We Are Already Married And I’m Glad We Are Not In That Timeline
Because we had different experiences we developed different expectations
Instead I moved to California straight out of college
and met you at a speakeasy where you started a fight
With a misogynistic tourist from Ohio
“Not everyone from the midwest is like that,” I said,
And punched him squarely in the jaw
(In that timeline I do more push-ups)
Can you imagine how we must have tumbled down the Valley?
I never smoked a cigarette in my life
But I still finished half a thirty rack while leaning out your car window
We had our first date at the observatory
where you said the lights of the city looked like stars burning out
(Actually I think that was me)
What you said was “those palm trees don't belong here -
Los Angeles, you whore... I love you”
And I said I loved it, too, and you,
I asked you to marry me in front of all your friends
They said no and you said yes.
You might be asking yourself why
I do not envy these other versions of us
Exploring another South Pacific, barefoot and blissful
Because we had different experiences we developed different expectations
My dad made me a therapist
You worked so hard to move out of home
And I see all the lights of all the cities behind your eyes
Like stars refusing to burn out
We are non-native species holding fast to dry earth -
That other me must be so jealous.
tangentwithtanner
germansingergirl
amandla
areudirty
titsay
