by Lauren King

He coaxes me out of bed—

softly slipping the comforter off my chest,

down my legs, leaving my toes bare to the new chill.

He drapes my arms around his neck,

slides his palms to the crevice in my lower back,

places the balls of my feet on the bones of his own.

He spins our bodies in a circle—

together, drifting around the room in the moonlight,

velvety, sleepy giggles filling the void in our space.

The hum of curtains fills the bedroom,

the draft from the air vent forcing them against carpet,

the comforter produces static when our legs brush by.

He looks into my eyes—

two fresh robin eggs meeting murky soil—

And I know we are content.

     Lauren King is currently studying both English and strategic communications at Oklahoma State University, and she will graduate in the spring. After graduation, Lauren hopes to work for a public relations firm, where she can pursue her love for writing within her career. Lauren is most interested in literary fiction, and she enjoys exploring realms of the supernatural, horror and mystery genres. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with family and friends.