Heart

I had said,

“Don’t force me to reveal the ugly origami that is my heart.

The space it fits into is cramped and bloody

And I am not sure I could get it back inside.”

But you had insisted.

And then I had revealed myself, against my will. 

Against my better judgment.

We sat staring at it, the slimy shape in my hands, purple and red, shiny in the

late-night mood lighting of the restaurant. It began staining the tablecloth at the edge of the table where I placed my hands.

And the smell.

I hadn’t expected that.

Iron rich blood, and something faintly sweet.

“Put it away, I can’t stand it”

you said.

And then you said,

“What should we do with it?”

I cradled it, cupped in my hands and looked from you and back to my hands, to the visceral reminder of what I had done.

“You need to leave,” I said.

“I will figure it out.”

You were silent, and at some point you left.

And I sat there for a while, feeling the outside of it start to cool, and to harden.

That is, to scab.

I knew that action was required, but my hands were occupied. I rocked it slowly back and forth, trying to see if I noticed a difference. It was just a little unpleasant, and I grimaced, and then reached for my napkin. I gently rolled the heart onto one hand, and spread the napkin out over the other hand with a flicking motion. Slowly, I rolled my heart onto the napkin on my hand, and then bringing the four corners together I made a bundle that I could carry.

It was heavier than I thought it would be, and I looked around to see if anyone in this busy restaurant had noticed.

They hadn’t, and I headed for the door.

The night air was warm, and I walked towards my car.

I felt ill about my bloody hands touching the steering wheel of my car, but the blood was mostly dry by now. I made a rubbing motion with my hand, fingers curling against palm, and a dusting of dried blood sifted down.

Should I go to the hospital? The stitches alone would be a fortune.

I drove, poorly, as though it didn’t matter. My heart rested, damp, in the depression where my legs met. I may have run a red light.

Arriving at my house, I thought

"This is a morning problem; I need sunshine and daylight to think this through."

So I went inside.

It was a fragile feeling, being both the heart and the vessel. I was tired, and instead of facing the mirror to undress, I turned my back.

I put on the softest cotton shirt I owned, still holding the now stained bundle by the four corners. I switched it from one hand to another to pull on the shirt.

I pulled back the covers, climbed into my bed and spread the napkin out, like a picnic.

A feast.

I looked at it as I lay on my side, and felt the place inside me longing to be filled.