The Game Itself

A look across the room,
A pause a second long.
One step into my space,
I moved enough away.

You changed the line without a word.
I knew that move.
I stayed.

A move.
A counter-move.
A silence we both read.
You never asked the question.
I gave you what you need.

We never played to win,
We never named the game.
You spoke to me in pauses,
I answered you the same.

No victory.
No surrender.
We thought we played each other.
Love was playing the game.

Your hand was close to mine,
But never crossed the line.
You left the meaning unfinished.
I filled the missing sign.

You knew when to come closer.
I knew when not to move.
Every almost-touch between us
Said what we never would.

One look.
One pause.
One move.
One counter-move.

You knew.
I knew.

We never played to win.
There was nothing left to claim.
We thought we held the pieces.
We thought we made the moves.

No one won.
No one lost.

Love was the game itself.