your gaze is my favorite
accessory. at first I wore it like
trying on lipstick for the first
time, rough around the edges, some
colors too mature for the moment, but
I grew into it, wore it like a favorite
necklace, an engagement ring. on the days when

the mirror gives me nothing but ugly, I
look into my own eyes until I see
you staring back, smiling so hard your
dimples have dimples. loving you
means loving myself enough to
look both ways before I drive
across the train tracks, and eat
dinner even on the nights I think
I’m fat. I am not saying that you

are my other half. I am saying
that you knew where to
find it.