You must know this.

It is only when his heart beats softly in my ear.

It is only when the silence can settle in like a warm fog between and around us.

It is only when the street sounds below are a muted colour on the canvas of our being together – in the same room – on the same couch – wrapped in each other’s sweaters – both completely clothed and yet so incredibly open – like those tendrils of incense at your altar – how they unfurled and rose to meet the ceiling the sky – completely dispersed – taking all our tensions with them.

Content.

If there’s anyone else out there who can match that level of comfort my love– (and I don’t mean that word the way it sounds),

he will have known my heart as well as you do.

Only then will I be ready.