Underneath his skin,
She can feel his heart palpitate.

Two beats fast, one slow.
He loves me.

Morse code denotes his love for her.
Pressed up so close that his hot breath
Produces beads of sweat
Along her neck.

She shuts both eyes closed fast
And is swallowed up by whole darkness.

Suddenly it's cold and she is suffocated
By the fear of this vast empty space
That seems a vacuum
For her heart.

A shiver runs down the back of her neck,
Cuts across her spine.

In sleep he hugs her gently, wraps warm arms
Tighter around her small frame.
And she can sleep easily -
The darkness suddenly full of warm, sweet things -
Promising possibilities.

Her quivering heart slows to
Two beats fast, one slow.