One Night in Brooklyn

One Night in Brooklyn
 

We sat side by side on the fire escape, arms snaked around each other’s waists. You lost a shoe. A dog kept barking in the yard below. We passed a joint back and forth. Your put your hand inside my jacket. I put my mouth on your mouth. I sat with my back to the kitchen, the narrow window framing my back, blocking you from view. From inside it must have looked as if I were kissing the air.

Carrie lent you a pair of flats. On the subway you and I held hands. The man across from us stared intently, figuring things out. I set my jaw as if to say, She’s my girlfriend. My girlfriend. It was cool out. I led you to your apartment, out of the elevator. In my memory we removed each other’s clothes without our lips ever coming apart.