jealousy walks home with me
and asks for my perfume, so i
give it to her—it smells better
on her skin, anyway—jealousy
holds up my palms to read my
poetry—my words sound better
in her voice, so i tell her she
can keep them—jealousy hugs
me, holds me close so i can feel
the heartbeat i will never have,
walks with my hands in hers just
so i know what it must feel like
to be in love with her instead of
me—jealousy shows me all the
parts of her that aren't perfect,
she laughs because she knows
that even her worst days are
better than my best—jealousy
smooths down the wrinkles on
her dress, touches her cheeks
with blush, unravels her innocent
thoughts down my back, kisses
the sky, smiles at me with all
her teeth, and asks me what’s
wrong. then jealousy sighs, lays
her head on my hands, sinks her
soul into my heart, untangles her
secrets into my ear, presses her
pink lips against my skin, and
whispers in a voice like velvet,
“you’ll never be like
me.”