Stubble

Stubble brushed my neck when we embraced

Pricked my jaw, seared my skin

Little cuts on my cheeks burned like hot salty tears

When my face touched the pillows of my queen size bed

I was tangled in the sheets

The smell of you, sweet like ginger and brown sugar

Remained within the fibers of my black sweater

At the bottom of the curls of my hair

I wore pink lipstick to leave my mark on your crystal wine glasses

It worked, stained

We bumped knees and touched palms

Shared stories of our brothers and lovers

Wringing out the details of our past trysts

I won by breathing you in

You won by lying first

In the past I would have crushed you

Like the end of a hard strawberry candy

Letting your sweet, sugar center soak my tongue before swallowing

Now I am old

Wise

Alone

I feel you

Run my fingers through your hair

Adjust your collarbone

Kiss you, goodnight