Salt Water.

The last time I saw you,
I told you I remembered how you fell asleep.
You'd have to have the room cold,
And you'd rub your feet against each other
Right over left, left over right,
Over and over until your breath came deep and drawn,
Like ocean tides.
We sat at the lake's edge, and you thanked me for bringing you back
To your childhood neighborhood.
You sent me a letter recently,
Asking for a friend
To hold you up and stand beside you
During a difficult time.
I didn't know what to say to you
Except I'd be there.
And that when you and I had ended our relationship eight years ago,
I said I would always be your friend,
And I intended, come hell or high water,
To stay true to that vow.
You contacted me again,
Last night.
Said you were in town for a little bit,
Asked to see me.
I said yes.
I stood up and hugged you for what felt like forever.
Old friends.
Like ocean and sand.
Always touching
But never in quite the same way.
We talked for hours.
Shared some drinks,
Told stories of our pasts,
Eight years is a long time.
I'm not sure if the closeness or the distance of sitting at that table with you
Was the cause or the effect,
But I remembered your arm draped casually over my shoulder eight years ago,
Sitting in a bar,
Singing Sweet Caroline
And Margaritaville,
And how my heart beat just a little faster,
And my head felt a little fuzzier,
Because you were there.
We used to joke about how if we ever had children
What a funny story we got to tell them about the night we met.
I bought you at a single's mixer bachelor auction,
You bought me drinks.
Eight years is a long time,
But I felt it rush back into me
Like the tide turning.
Before you left,
You kissed me.
Said I was beautiful.
I'm not sure how I outwardly reacted,
Inwardly, though,
Inwardly I heard the ocean roar.
This ocean is dangerous.
It's full of rocks, and things that sting, things that bite, things that are unknown and secret.
This ocean has sank ships, melted icebergs and drowned men.
This ocean also is peaceful, and beautiful,
It preserves artifacts from the past,  houses things of such vivid color,
And gives as much life as it takes away.
This ocean is who I am.
And I'm left wondering if you'll let my tides chase at your feet,
Or take a chance and brave the waters again.