She finishes her shower

And walks into the bedroom

And finds him sitting up in bed,

Carefully reaching down and

Picking up something

From the rumpled blankets

And carefully placing it

In a circle

In front of him.

He carefully

Swipes something  in the air

And slowly reaches forward

And then blows out

The imaginary

Flame.

He leans forward and

Blows on the coals

To help the flames along.

She can barely

Contain her giggles

When she realizes

The only fire

Started in this

Room this night

Will be the one in his mind.

Susan Bergeron

July 19, 2011