Natalie dressed and opened the curtains,
letting the sun shine in.
Without moving,
she looked out onto the day
and said, “we can’t keep doing this.”
I knew I couldn’t
and said so.
“I don’t think I have the stamina.”

She turned then
and told me
that mistakes had been made
and that this wasn’t the time
for levity.
I agreed with that as well.

I stared her way
viewing only a silhouette
blinded by the light behind her.
“You have defined us
since the start.
“You decided when we would meet
and how and why
and you can just as easily decide
when we should stop.
“Yours is the mind
that changes our fate.
I understand this,”
I said,
“though I may not like it.
Let me know, please,
if we can keep doing this
or if it has to end.”

Natalie, dressed,
looked me over
and up and down
and even under.
“We can come to conclusions later,”
she said
and that was the last thing either of us said
for some time to come.