The Beginning of the Voyage

As I gather my belongings and shove them into the already-cramped suitcase,

I feel warm arms sneak

around me.

I feel your breath caress my ear

and a promise being made.

"One day, we will be able to get married

like the rest of them,

and we will recover

what has been stolen from us."

I smile

and hope that one day

it will be genuine.

Maybe someday

in the Lone Star State

and in the rest of the poisoned

earth

love will be love

and gender will simply be

anatomy.

As I place the last article of clothing into the engorged suitcase,

I turn around,

returning the embrace

and holding back

the tears that

never

stop

respawning.