A Knock On the Door

out of surgery he awakens eyes sealed shut calling for his mother his grandmother holds his hands his eyes open his stitches slowly stretch he is told to stay still relax flash he is sprawled on a bed someone slaps and shakes him awake his muscles seize he sees someone watching he must be awake he thinks to himself sweating sunlight splashes on his face discovering he is alone in the room he walks trembling towards the bathroom his head pounds as he flicks the light switch on his fingers fly across the keyboard a knock on the door his lover is home he lets her in her cheeks are cold and flushed red she complains about her face being numb blaming the wind chill playing with the cat smiling