night arrives at the door with a lidded platter of chocolate chip cookies vegan since you can’t have dairy unlaces their boots and sits across from me responds to my raised how-did-you-find-me-in-the-woods eyebrows i knew you’d be here trying to clear your head crossing and uncrossing their limbs hair spiraling up toward the ceiling as they stand to stretch then down on the floor telling me to come press my back against the ground so i do and we stare up where the paint cracks the rafters making a triangle i press my heels into the ground feel my back rollicking into a momentary bridge to let invisible ships pass then lower the arch the lock this fixed chamber trying to lengthen trying to will breath into recurring ache the ships having taken their cargo elsewhere i say i don’t want any more stuff and night says i know and i’m crying and we’ve got chocolate in our teeth and when i wake i’m alone again not far from sea