I Like to Be Touched

she wanted him to fight for her.
Show her how much he still wanted her.
just once, not to sigh heavily and give up.
not to bury his nose deeper in the paper-
pretending not to hear her.
not to grunt and act as if her request were SUCH an inconvienience.
not to sag his shoulders and go to the garage
to tinker with his toys.
or just glare at her with his steely eyes..
emotionless. expressionless... unfeeling.
Over the years the weight had grown oppressive.
What she needed he witholded,
in return, what he wanted she witholded.
Neither happy. Neither willing to give an inch.
She remembered at the beginning.
Things were going to be so different for them.
She smiled a soft smile as she remembered the times he would come up behind her,
busy in the kitchen, hug her and kiss the back of her neck, making her heart quicken.
What happened to that sweet and passionate man?
The smile turned bitter as she looked at him now.
Hunched over the sandwich he had made for himself.
Not even bothering to ask her to make it.
or offering to make her one.
when was the last time they had talked and laughed?
Touched and didn't recoil?
Made love frequently and spur-of-the-moment,
not just gone thru the motions on birthdays and anniversaries.
She turned back to her dishes with a sigh.
Just one lingering touch would be all it would take
to have her falling into his arms and melting into him.
Her tear fell into the soapy dishwater.

he wanted her to fight for him.
Show him how much she still wanted him.
He hunched over the sandwich he had made for himself.
far-be-it for him to ask her to do anything for him.
when all he got were contemptuous looks and silent tears
that made him feel nothing but guilt
For some unknown or forgotten thing he had done, or maybe hadn't done,
or something he hadn't said, or had said with the wrong tone of voice.
Imperceptively shaking his head, as not to draw attention from the woman
who's attention he had so desired years ago...
he remembered the sweet woman she used to be.
when her laugh rang out happily and her eyes sparkled for him alone.
when did she get that accusatory look and the brittle unhumoured bark
that she used now as a laugh?
He longed to take her into his arms
reintroduce her to the pleasures of things.
A tiny smile played on his lips as he imagined
the look of shock she would give him if he quickly got up from the table,
wrapped his arms around her waist, pushed her hair over to the side
and kissed her on the back of her neck like he used to.
He carefully masked the chuckle with a cough....
He'd more likely be smacked in the head with the pot she was scrubbing so determinedly...
he studiously erased the smirk from his face, the twinkle from his eye,
stood up and turned to drop his dirty dishes in the sink.
he paused for a moment.
thinking....
just a moment...
before stepping around her to deliver his plate and glass..