TORNADO

I can feel it burn in my nose. I can feel the tears swell like raindrops in the corners of my eyes until they get so fat they threaten to slide down my face. My fingers graze your arm and I can feel little electric volts wrapping up and around my wrists like a spiral staircase like a static handcuff holding my hand hostage to your skin. I can feel my heart climb into my throat and curl up on the carpet with its head between its knees, to hide from the beat Beat beating loud like a thunderstorm outside. I can taste the salt of your sweat on the roof of my mouth. I can rеmember the tastе like it’s still on my lips even when I am 3,000 miles away. In my head, I replay a mixtape of your laughter sounding off from my phone and I call you every 20 minutes. I will hold your hand till my fingers are cold and bluer than a Picasso till the blood has left them. I will kiss your head and rub your shoulders and bring you ease and ecstasy till your foggy head stops ringing like a car alarm. I will wipe every tear. (I like everything about you, even the things you give away. Like tears and laughs and yawns and lost eyelashes.) I will be there when the sun comes up curled in your lap shivering rubbing my eyes and smiling softly. I will listen to the same sad songs over and over and over again till they vibrate in my skull when the volume ceases. I love the sun for shining on your skin, I love the wind for blowing through your hair, I love the coee for staining your teeth and warming your palms in the morning. I would protect you till the end of time. I would lie down in the middle of a tornado and cover you.