If
there had been
between
her and him
an awareness of progressions,
sylogistic,
inevitable,
if – then,
if this then that,
commensing with a soft accidental
touch,
a slight, themeless
brush,
back of hand
to back of hand,
while walking to the water cooler.
anywhere –
fingers to cheek in a
moment
of hilarious laughter,
a quick, quiet, secret
fast
first
kiss
if,
then,
she and he
would have, early enough
discovered the difference
between
what seems to be a horizontal progression toward
nothing
and
the
vertical
plunge
to
an
end
that
must
of
necessity
include
sacrifice
–
the subtle, soft, silent, steamy strangulation

of their

souls.