You're a friend, a true friend; someone I trust implicitly. If ages and circumstances were

otherwise, we could be lovers, and we've come to not needing to pretend that isn't the case,

with happiness and not too much regret. Safe and comfortable, yes, but still challenging;

we're neither of us easy people, and we haven't and don't always make things easy for each

other, let alone ourselves. Even apart from all this, you're one of the best people I know,

dedicated to your family and your friends, dedicated to your ever more challenging work,

making hard to impossible choices with courage and dedication and generosity of spirit. Yes

an abiding comfort

but not of need

nor of dependence.

(An old companion is dying here

breathing hard

limbs giving way

breathing rough

now in sleep

tonight? Tomorrow?

soon…)

easier to bear.

Thank you,

6th May 2016, SG18 - prompt: muse, with a prose preamble