imagine if you had stayed there forever 

on the cross fit, arms flailing comically 

legs metronomic, pumping sad alone 

nothing in your stomach but powdery bile 

sweat pouring off you, drenching the floor 

pooling in dewy puddles on the pedals 

staining the blue carpet tiles, trickling  

in salty ravines, hitting the mirrors 

cascading down the steps, bursting forth 

from the lockers and out to the street 

 

imagine i had walked in then 

barefoot, your scent engulfing me 

imagine me falling into your exhaustion 

sweat overtaking both our bodies 

drowning together in whispered truths 

imagine the searing pain as we are slit 

three deep cuts appearing on our throats 

lungs shrinking then gone, breathing at last 

in the gym, swimming through your brine 

the whole world engulfed in our power 

 

this is how we evolve 

in love 

no longer alone