a girl and her dog

I’ve fallen in love with a brown-eyed girl.
At night, I trace invisible hearts
over her white and grey coat.
Her body curves into mine.

At night, I trace invisible hearts
to protect her from monsters.
Her body curves into mine as
I sing lullabies into her ear.

To protect her from monsters
I tuck her beneath my blanket.
I sing lullabies into her ear, and
she kisses my hand—thank you.

Tucked beneath my blanket,
my lips shape a prayer of sleep.
She kisses my hand, a thank you.
Whispered secrets between two sisters.

My lips pray for sleep.
My breath falls into pattern
with my sister’s—whispered secrets.
I fell in love with a brown-eyed girl.