distance (part forty-two: full)

I had a vision of your hand
impulsively grabbing mine
to keep me from turning away--

you softly
and deeply said, "Hey,"

and I did turn back to face you
afraid to make eye contact because that's the hardest thing
but I did

all while waiting for the moment to arrive,
hot lava rose from my diaphragm to the back of my throat
while I restrained breaths,
once calculated,
now thoroughbred and pulling to run away from me,
to give me away.

-Dana Winter