He stares at her picture:  golden

highlights, swinging in the hammock

next to him. she was so wonderful to touch.

her last breath is a question to him: her thoughts, prayers.

What did he do to her before she died? How much

did she suffer?  he digs his nails into his gray sheets, wondering:

where was I to stop him?

her hot breath on his neck. smell: vanilla     taste: mint

hot.  Inside.  He burns for her now

            as always, not

                        quite the same.