to give him my virginity?
“Give” doesn’t sound right.
I don’t see it as a gift to him.
We’re sitting on my bed now.
He kicks off his Reebok Classics.
I untie the laces of my Converse
and pull them off.
I don’t think he’s a virgin.
We don’t say anything at first.
I turn to face him,
he turns toward me.
I ask him, “Can I kiss you?”
and he says, “Yes.”
I ask him, “Can I touch you?”
and he says, “Yes.”
I ask him, “Will you use a condom?”
and he says, “Yes.”
I ask him, “Will you stay the night?”
and he says, “Yes.”
He falls asleep before me
and I lie wide awake, thinking
this is how it should be.
Meeting someone in real life,
not online or on an app.
Meeting someone randomly,
not just in a gay bar—in any bar.
Or anywhere—at a bus stop,
a shop, walking down the street,
how other people get to meet.
He falls asleep beside me
