Why have you been so quiet lately?

recovery often arrives in a hush

I could see that you were
deep in thought 
but I couldn't help myself
from interrupting you

I had a question for you
that I had been
unable to shake

my curiosity had begun as a sapling but now it was an redwood with more branches than I could ever count

I couldn't escape it
the question tied 
itself to my tongue 

I had to ask you 

if for no other reason
than to just feel your eyes
fall upon me for  
a fleeting moment 

I’ve never told you this before
but every time you look at me
it’s like a spring sunburst
that peeks out from behind
a cloud to remind me briefly 
of what real warmth feels like

"My love?" I asked.

you looked up at me through 
the billowing steam rising 
from your peppermint tea
with your smile that always holds
a hundred million graces as if it were an ark

My love," I repeated. 
"Why have you been so quiet lately?" 

your smile didn't fade,
if anything it widened

like you had been waiting 
for me to finally have 
the courage
to ask my question

you reached across the
kitchen table

and laid your hand on mine
as if it were a blanket

and softly said to me: