and put in my credit card first, smiles
with glimmering surprise when I kiss him on the cheek,
works at a tortilla factory, owns twelve house plants
in white ceramic pots, has read Les Miserables three times,
speaks nearly flawless English with an accent
I usually understand but occasionally have to say, “wait what?”
and we laugh because my Spanish is nonexistent but at least
I can roll my tongue, brings colored vases of carnations
when I am sick, asks about my day, texts during work
between paperwork and quality checks and late flour deliveries,
says this sixty-hour week isn’t forever, just a few more years
because of the work visa, drinks coffee with milk,
talks to my mom about Mexico, is good
at every board game I teach him, orders pizza from Pieology
with a drizzle of raspberry vinaigrette, got an MBA just in case,
says he always wanted to date a girl with freckles, falls asleep
during chick flicks with his head on my shoulder.
--Trianne H., Adult