by Shakespears Sister
came on the radio
at work.
It reminded me of
you.
I remove all
romantic context.
Instead I imagine you
lying on that alter
and I am begging
begging
for you to
stay with me.
I am asking you
to consider me
enough.
I imagine
laying my head
on your shoulder
holding my breath
to catch every
echo of your heartbeat
as you tell me stories
of us dancing in the kitchen
bare feet on cold tiles
to Fleetwood Mac
and I shut my eyes tight
exhale and whisper
stay stay stay.

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Ally-Joh Gowan-Day has a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing and is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing. Her writing focuses on life with trauma, specifically dealing with childhood trauma and PTSD. Previously she has worked as an editorial assistant for Wales Arts Review and as a freelance editor and researcher for companies such as Open Genius and Kogan Page. She originally hails from Somerset but has lived in the Valleys for 6 years now and can’t imagine herself anywhere else, even with the rain and the hills her car engine hates.