home and away

i wanted to give you a lasting meaningful piece of me to take with you.

to have me with you.

but that's when i come up empty. isn’t that when we always come up empty?

for some reason and instead i will tell you that when ray moved in two doors down he looked so unlike anyone else in the street – too tough and too well worn – i thought he’d be gone after his first paid month was up.

but he stayed, and was a wonderful neighbour.

helpful and protective.

and maybe that is why i am telling you this now. because you too have surprised me. in a way i didn’t realise i could be, or wanted to be.

you too have moved in. and i am glad.


ray did end up leaving our street the following year, said “the clean” made him nervous. like there was always a trace of him doing something he shouldn’t be.

and so i miss him now. and i miss you too.