Three, five, ten, twenty years merged.

Phases swirl through days. Early months transition: infatuation to animosity, not in love. Doubt, deceit, dread, denial.

Reconciliation.

Crushes pass and passion carves to comfort. Friends, confidants sharing encyclopedic knowledge, opinions with glances, humor, seeming clairvoyance. Fingers not entwined as once, but now comfort, heat, knowing, caress, acceptance, love.

Up the mountain of time, summit, avoiding avalanches, left unscarred but others—as worthy?–removed.

Stay until air dissolves, breathless descent or ascent, possibly not,

together.

end