The Goodbye

Just when I was thinking
He should be here soon,
the doorbell rang.
As he stood in my doorway,
his face told me
all I wanted to know.
He kissed me and held me
for a heartbeat and a half.
I poured him a drink
while he told me
how she cried
when he told her about me.
I listened as he recalled
how she begged him not to leave.
His beautiful brown eyes
clouded with sadness,
he told me again
how much he loved me.
Later, he fell asleep in my arms
as we made plans for the future
in the dark.
Holding him close,
feeling his soft breath
on my throat,
I thought of her and wondered
if she were sleeping.
I thought how,
if not for me,
she would not be alone tonight.
He stirred and sighed
in his sleep
and I kissed his forehead softly.
I fell asleep with a smile
because I had never known
such a sweet happiness
as I felt that night --
a happiness I still feel
each time he tells me he loves me.