You are sitting on my couch and the silence that surrounds you is killing me. I have offered you food that you have turned down and when you even refused coffee I am speechless. I put on the water for tea thinking if I have a cup maybe you'll join me. Something... anything... has to give before this tension drives me insane.

When you remain in silence I take a risk and ask you if everything is ok. You nod but I sense that even you know I can see right through the lie that response is.

Not to be defeated so easily I ask you if things are ok between you and him and golden eyes narrow but you don't answer. I try to wait patiently but I know I won't last long. I want to know what's bothering you… I need to know. Something has you behaving like a scared rabbit in his presence and I won't stop before I know what it is. I have my suspicions but that alone isn't enough.

If I'm to choke a man, I need a concrete reason to do so.

Suddenly you ask me if I ever get tired of living alone and the question startles me. It's out of place but I'm willing to play along. Anything for you.

Hoping that I'm reading your demeanor and expression correctly I say that I do get lonely at times and your face lights up. You launch into how much you miss Al and not knowing when he's coming home is torture for you. Knowing that your pride is at stake here I tell you that you are more than welcome to bunk with me anytime you want and an invisible weight lifts off your shoulders even as you make sure it won't be any trouble. I assure you it's not and the smile I am use to returns even as the shadows that have found a home in your eyes over the last few weeks remain.

I want to dig deeper but I know now is not the time. As that thought crosses my mind, something in my guts wrenches and my instincts shout that time is not something you may not have a lot of.

You ask me if I'm interested in playing a few hands of poker and I move to go get the cards. You are happily watching me shuffle and all is right with your world. We play until nightfall and you fall asleep on my couch again, but this time it's on and empty stomach and the peaceful expression is nowhere to be seen.

A storm is coming and I just pray I have what it takes to shelter you from the rain.