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Hell no.

Lyric laughs

turning away from me

to hobble toward the exit

gripping her walker tight.

But you can buy me a hot chocolate!

she yells over her shoulder.

I laugh

and follow her

off the ice.

Once our skates are returned

I order us two

steaming cups of chocolate

and we find an open bench.

Get close,

Lyric says softly

as we sit down.

Hold me, please.

So, I do just that.

I wrap one arm around her

pulling her into me tight.

Then we sit

listening to Norah

sing the final notes of

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

I don’t know

how long we’ll sit here

or if Lyric and I

will make it past next year.

For now, though, despite our wounds