The Difference

I'm in the office

finishing my workday.

You are downstairs

baking a cheesecake.

The dog floats between

floors, scouring the kitchen floor

for graham cracker crumbs, napping next to you

on the couch between baking steps,

and popping into the office to say hello.

At some point,

you both come into the office,

you to talk about the grocery list,

and the dog to roll around

on the floor to scratch her back.

We are existing

and coexisting

harmoniously, as a unit,

as a family.

The difference is

I want to continue

doing this with you

and you want to do this

with someone else.