The Proposal

Darling,
we can be like this: not lovers
we shall refrain from using
soft tones to describe truths
subtle touches to ascribe promises

we shall call each other
by our given names
and tell our friends that
we shall be referred to separately
and are not expected
to sit beside each other
all the time

there shall no longer be ignitions
at the slightest meeting of skin
no long, meaningful eyelocks,
no compliments.

when i reach out for your body
in the middle of the night
we shall call it unconscious intimacy
no, not intimacy..
unconscious bodily motion,
that's it.

we shall grant each other
100% freedom, flirting and cheating
and infidelity will be words
once remembered
and we shall undress ourselves of
the vulnerabilities we once
found in each other

there will no longer be "i love you"s
no, not even in silence
and meals will be basic
human need for food.
not bond, not interaction,
not fondness.
(not ESPECIALLY fondness.)

there shall be no missing,
no cuddling, no demands,
I will be cutting all our ties,
changing my passwords,
throwing away your memoirs.

and swear in my heart
that I will never look at you
the same way again
or never look at you
at all.

So,
deal?