12 Midnight

My brother, passed out on the couch while watching TV.
Mom is sleeping and my sister sleeps with her because she has been restless.
My dad is out working. In fact, he is probably on his way to Wyoming by now.
But we, in our youth, we are awake.
The buzz of the television
The whizzing of cars on the interstate is distant.
The hour is sly like a fox creeping in so slow and gentle
It passes quickly though when it is spooked and the hour disappears into
Tomorrow.
Awake
Eyes meet
Lips touch
It slowly gets harder to breathe
The color of the night is a deep red full of passionate love for one another
A glance at the tick-tock clock
12 midnight has come and gone
We hold one another tightly
The creak of the door is loud, but not loud enough to
disturb the quietness of the house

We say good morning
and good-bye

Mandi Borgelt