Bookshelf of Memories

What do we have here?
Ah, yes, I remember now.
That was the time you whispered
Love into my ear.
‘I love you.’
For the first time.
I couldn’t say it back.

“I love you.”
I say it now because you’re dying.
It probably doesn’t mean as much,
But it’s the truth.
I do love you.

I pick out another book.
That’s the photo of our first.
Jonathon.
He’s got his own now,
Do you remember?
She’s called Alex.

I hope he doesn’t make
The same mistakes we did.
You look at me vacantly.
Guiltily, I hope you die.
You’re not the person I married.
This isn’t right.

It’s a relief when you do go.
I wonder if that makes me a horrible person.
But you’re smiling at me in my
Bookshelf of memories.
In there, everyone smiles.