Part of Me

The window rattles
In the crisp October air,
Leafy battles whisper
Tiny tattles while
Stirring up cares and dares

It's warm where we are,
Burrowed under the covers—
The last thing I want to do is move
But not would mean hearing
From everyone and their mothers.

My face still in your neck,
And your arm wrapped
Around me tight—
I have to go and I have to move
But being here feels
So right

The alarm sounds in my ear—
From my phone before my brain,
You stir and pull me closer,
And my will to move is strained

I manage to untangle from your
Sleeping
Slumbering
Form—
I kill the alarm without a sound
And wish that it was warm

I maneuver past you again,
Trying hard not to hit my head,
As I search in the dim light
For the ladder

My foot hits a rung
And when I think I am done,
Your iron fist grasps my wrist
And pulls me back in

“Going somewhere?”
You ask, sleep still holding your eyes.
I feel like a child
Caught spoiling a surprise.

I am against your chest again,
Warm
Safe
And sound—
The soft lull of your heart
Is making mine start to pound.

“I thought that you were sleeping.”
“I was.”
“Was I loud?”
“No.”
“Then how—”
“It was cold and I realized
You weren’t around.”

“The fire alarm doesn’t move you,
And your roommate
Slams
Claps
And lights up everything
Without you stirring—”
“You’re different.”

“He hit you with his shoe—”
“But when you leave, I feel it,
Because a part of me
Goes with you.”

What could I say to that?
My heart melted into goo.
So I gave into temptation,
Curled up and closed my eyes,
Warm
Safe
“I love you.”
“And I you.”