michelledoelling:

“Private Parts” - Sarah Kay. (Starts at 1:00)

I gave him my shoulder, my elbow, the bend of my knee. I lent him my corners, my edges, the parts of me I could afford to offer. He gave me back his eyelashes, the back of his neck, his palms. We held each piece we were given like it was a nectarine that could bruise if we weren’t careful. We collected them like we were trying to build an orchid.

There was no secret I didn’t tell him, no moment I didn’t share. We didn’t grow up, we grew in, like ivy wrapping, molding each other into perfect yings and yangs. We kissed mouths open, breathing his exhale into my inhale. We could have survived underwater, or outer space, breathing only the breath we traded. 

We spelled love “g-i-v-e”. If I could have I would have given it all away with the rest of me. I did not know it was possible to save some things for myself.

Some nights I wake up knowing he is anxious. He is across the world in another woman’s arms. The years have spread us like dandelion seeds - sanding down the edges of our jigsaw parts that used to only fit each other. I wait for him to sleep, before tucking myself into elbows and knees, reaching for things I have long since given away.

marry me .__.