​

I skipped a stone into the water once.

It sank,

falling deeper

than I ever could have imagined.

It must’ve hit the ground—

the weight careened it towards the lake floor

as a soft plush of dirt

was carried up, before falling

down.

Now, I think about that stone sometimes.

And—

there were pieces of me

I knew

would have been safer

had you never known them.

But, your hands reached into my soul, tugging hard,

like children do when they’re fighting

over lollies.

Maybe it wasn’t about a stone

or a heart,

but

the curve of the card from being shuffled

one too many times

flipped back and forth,

that your smile might fade

and the water that slipped down your face

wasn’t from being sunken

into the pool

this time.