Pain

When I run my hands over your body, I can feel you relax. You love the touch of my fingers, hands, my nails. Every morning, there's nothing I love more than feeling your body release under my hands.

Your painful torso loves my touch on your ribs. Everything on you hurts, my poor baby. I can massage your feet, your thighs, your back, your temples. When I rub on your head, I reach for your hair and pull. You relax when I pull your hair. There's nothing I love more than feeling your body move to my hands. There's nothing you love more than when I ask you if you want rubs.

Rubs is what we call it. I force my hands and elbows into your poor tired back, and when I do it right, I can feel you align. And breathe better. Then you fall back to sleep in my arms. And you are safe.