lemon loaf cake

in my imagination
you are leaning
against the kitchen counter
half-asleep, drowsy-eyed
and i am eating lemon loaf cake
with my fingers
until they’re sticky
we kiss
and our mouths are stuck together
briefly
until we break it with laughter

i imagine you
brushing the back of my hand
with your fingers
clean, for the lack of cake
and the window is open behind me
it’s october now
the world is colder now
so when the shivers start
i curl into your side
this time, not to hide
but because i strip myself bare
and bathe in your warmth
a pocket of sun
in an october breeze

in my imagination
you do not push me away
you ask me to stay
and i feed you lemon cake
i lick my sticky fingers
like a child
and you wince
because you hate finger foods
but it feels safe here to eat them anyway

i eat the cake anyway
and when i look in the mirror
i don’t fixate on the memory
of cake hugging my curves

and there is only calm
no nerves

one day
i would like a kitchen
and cake
with you.

12:59pm - 14/10/25.