underwater

the technology of our love—having both
advanced and regressed—brought us to unlikely,
impossible places before it short circuited, crackled
a blinding series of sparks,
partially melted our plastic control
panel, and emitted a puff of smoke. we sat together.
left with nothing but a map, a stub
of a pencil, and a compass pointing always
away from our hearts. you lay down,
softly coughing on the fumes, and i
peered into the black and cold. i told you
i still loved you and the last lightbulb flickered out.

About the author

sterling-elizabeth arcadia can’t stop transitioning!

Image credit: sterling-elizabeth arcadia.