Queen's Devirginization Day*

*and other make-believe holidays, more reasons to miss work.

***

Him: You kids don't get Thanksgiving off do ya?

Me: Nope. I work for Aussies.

Him: Aww. What major holidays they got?

Me: Boxing Day.

Him: But we have that whenever Pacman fights

Me: Queen's Devirginization Day...shit like that.

Him: Are you shitting me? Devirginization Day? Aussies are way weird.

Me: Yes, I was shitting you.

Him: Regardless, Aussies - still weird.

***

The only thing I miss more than

convenient sex

is

inconvenient love.

***

A year ago, our kisses made me see colors more vividly. We used to dream of children who'd be darker than our knees. We got drunk on lies and possibilities. We slept and touched and sipped each other's wine. For two sunsets.

A year hence.

I am wearing nothing but a Kenny Open singlet, which I wore the last time Dan and I ran together. He was wearing nothing but a tattoo of the woman he loved before he met me. Our kisses. I don't see colors anymore. All I see is the pale red glow on the ceiling mirrors. Our kisses. Like your favorite food when you have a cold - devoid of flavor.

The heart has a fallible, unreliable memory.

But when you so need it to fail, it doesn't.

***

Me: I don't even remember if I came.

Him: Well I have video. In case you wanna remember.

Me: now you're shitting me.

Him: You shat me first