I Fell in Love with Hope - Lancali

He can’t be like the people on the other side of the fence.
“You’re right,” Sam says, rubbing his hands up and down my sides.
“We’ll wait till we’re older, till I’ve gotten stronger.”
“Are you sad?” I ask, peering.
“No.” He presses my palm to his covered cheek.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“I want you to be happy,” I say, desperation behind it. “We can still go
on adventures,” I say like I’m trying to make up for the regret
wallowing on Sam’s face. “We can eat sweet bread and pudding
every day and–and play card games.
We’ll sunbathe every morning and play in the park and–”
“Sweet Sam,” he interrupts.
“Yes?”
Sam leans in till our foreheads touch. The air is humid, thick, and
cool.
Sam breathes it in, slipping the mask below his chin. I shudder, but I
know better than to stop him. His eyes become half-lidded, like suns
setting beneath a hill.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks.
The couples dancing across the line hold each other close. They
lose themselves in the music. They might even peck each other’s
cheeks and let their noses brush.
But none look at each other the way Sam looks at me.