Close Call and a Small Victory

You don't mean to, but
you ask the question
laughing at yourself, really
because the wound is only
barely held together
by a gossamer stitch of time
the pain so near surface
(for you, for me)
to even think about sudden movement
But the thought! strung between
and woven through us
for a brief and sweet second
I laugh out loud
to prove I understand
the ridiculousness of it all
as though contributing more fuel
to the hungry fire of Fate
should be a thought dismissed
before its very completion
We look, sheepishly, at each other
(ourselves, our past)
and make hurried excuses for flight
this moment of intensity
too comfortable and close
and I walk away thinking
yes, I must, I will.