Half Heartbeat Memories

Out of the chill of February's breath, came his words unexpected.
He thought of her? After all this time?
After their moment that seemed to last the length of one half heartbeat?

Oh she had thought of him too. So many times.
When she closes her eyes- even tonight.
She still sees his beautiful smile that grew before his lips touched hers.

Oh she sees it still......that smile. And that kiss-- that remarkable kiss.

It haunts her with memories bittersweet.

They can never speak of it. Never to anyone but each other.
The destruction it would cause. Hearts would shatter.
He shut his mind off to her to protect them all. She did too.

But with coffee soaked sighs and decisions to be damned,
They had that half a heartbeat in time.
And to see him at all makes her quiver and shake with the thought...

And she remembers that half heartbeat in time that he was hers.
Only in that little apartment where no one could see
And in phone calls and messages and time stolen together

It lasted one half heartbeat.
But for that smile... that leaned into a kiss....
They took great risks for the sweetness of it all.

For the taste of that kiss. For the rush of that smile.
For another night-  a world apart-  Italy to her home.
She had no regrets.

And now the thought- that he thinks of her still
That her nose does tickle when he remembers her briefly.
Adds another breath to the half of heartbeat that she'll never wish away.