i
Before he says the words,
I am already memorising
the lines on his face,
the colour of his eyes,
the way his hair
falls over his forehead.
Before he says the words,
I already know that this is
the last time
I will set my eyes on his face.
It’s sad.
My hands are tied
with a red string,
to the wrists of a boy
I’ve never seen before.
Before he says the words,
I am already planning
a future
without him.
Perhaps though,
someday
if there is destiny between us
and not
the unyielding promise of our elders —
we will meet again.
“I do.”
