Three Acts of Love in The Minnesota
Act One: 9
And, my favorite memory
Dad takes us to buy donuts
It’s my birthday
It’s early in the morning
Mom is sleeping and the night before
She had said no
And my dad drives, smiling
He says to live a little bit
A donut doesn’t hurt
At home, Mom wakes up early
And realizes where we are
Goes back to sleep
Pretending she never notices.
The empty beds.
Small betrayals.
I am nine.
Act Two: Love
Rules were made to be broken
My heart was made to be loved
I have made some mistakes
I have done some bad things
I apologize every day and
I wonder how you could love me
I’ve never forgiven myself.
So how could anyone else?
We will be married on Sunday.
I am twenty-three.
Act Three: Blizzard
We stand
Apart
Nothing to say
My notebook
A blizzard
I have nothing.
I am thirty-two.