Bird As Fish

She could have been anywhere.
Anywhere in the whole dark world for all I could tell at that moment.
She could have been anywhere in the whole damn bed.

She could have been anywhere,
And yet, I knew she was right beside me.
Just close enough that I could touch her if I moved,
But not so close that I could reach out to her.
Just far enough away.
Yet I knew she was beside me because I could feel her breathing.
And that breath landed on my neck,
Like a midnight velvet, clothing my face in warmth.

She could have been anywhere,
Her lips breathing gently from beneath a shadow.
All the things I didn't say.
She was right beside me.
She was just far enough away.