"Co-vida Home" by Monica Aleman

Co-vida Home

I have examined the fullness of your shoulders
The freckles that collect in tiny constellations
Baring themselves, unapologetically
From the next room

They offer no invitation to momentarily join
The temporarily disjointed life we share
Exchanging loving glances
And sweet caresses
As we briefly pass each other
On our way to another room

Me
In my hollowed-out box,
You
In yours

Tethered only to the legalities of love
Anchored to the weight of its words

I pore over images of you.
I
Sift and scroll through spontaneity. Mine and mourn
with carelessness.

My fingers run across a blank slate now.

You will remember me as a translucent shell,
Recoiling from the slightest touch

One day we’ll meet again in the center of a room

Monica Aleman

Monica Aleman Gibbs is a Salvadoran-American writer, native to Los Angeles, California. As a Salvadoran-American, she brings a unique and often overlooked experience to her work. She earned an Associate’s degree in English Literature from Citrus College, a Bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Los Angeles, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Mount St. Mary’s University, where some of her poems have been featured.

Headshot: Kelly Yang

Photo Credit: Staff