there's something i need to tell you

there often comes a point

in a relationship

when one person,

usually the woman,

bows her head,

and takes your hands

into hers and says

in a quiet voice, there's

something i need to tell you.

it could be nothing

it could be that she has

three cats, or is in debt,

or loves to collect

porcelain elephants.

or it could be that she

says something like,

despite what i've said,

and what my photographs

appear to be,

i'm not a woman beneath

this dress.