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But once    she didn’t  ask   at  all    once   she   kissed  him    on the cheek without
asking     politely           (  usually         a  humid   month )
politely     asked  if         she  could    hold   his     hand,       or kiss him             the  bench swayed  as  he said    thank you

Thank   you            for            understanding,  (  not a kiss   )    thank you
     this  could  have  been  a  disaster        he said     her    body    suddenly
              –  above,   across   the     road     –  then    she,   thank   god         sees   herself
at   a     distance,     sees     him          gesturing      –       thanking   her    for understanding   why  she  doesn’t  belong

this     not     belonging

not      a        sudden   concept    as

                        other things    can be   this