Opaque

Snow crunches under boots.

A full moon reaches down to greet us.

Hailstones litter the deck.

Ashes blaze in the bowl.

Hush, hear her breath,

See it burst forth, opaque.

Shoulders nudge.

I hold my hands to the fire.

As palms grow too warm, knuckles tremble, bitten by frigid air.

A puppy paws the door.

She breathes relief. Smoke rises, swirling.

We rise to free him.

He leaps, topples me, mops my cheeks with a tongue.

She bursts out.

She’s adorable.

I tell her how I see the world.

She tells me I’m cute.

I tell her I’m cold.

She scooches closer.

I look into her eyes with shame, and guilt.

She looks into mine with gentleness and understanding and forgiveness.

I can see all of that in her eyes.

She leans toward me, glances down at my barely-parted lips.

I try not to faint.

She breathes out, to the side, with a smile. Her breath is opaque.