She never asked for something like this

Consent was not a part of it

But she will tell she surely asked him for a kiss.

Nevertheless, her voice will not admit to it

For if she speaks, she did not permit

Walking on a road and holding hand

The small one, with same skin and her hair color

With his eyes – dark and forest green

But she will smile, and call it "mint with sour"

The other one, same town, but much younger

Barely reaching age of seventeen

A pair of twins in cradle right beside her

On the windowsill, crying her routine

The one looks just like her, but other's different

She hates herself for picking someone's side

But cannot force herself to look in storming forest

Can't stop the sobbing pleads from coming out

They meet by chance

In the park, much later

When older just reached out his thirteen year

And they met eyes, it was almost mater

She recognized the child of emerald-green

She knows the pain, they both know, that's the reason

She reached out closer, sitting on the bench

The other saw the older's younger brother

With a silent question, shared the pain

The blonde will nod, with a tired smile

Brunette will know the other part of tale

She knows, she tells another view of action

She'll never tell it happened once again

And while kids play, not knowing parent's sorrows

They talk in quiet, soft and damaged voice

And hours pass, they will meet tomorrow

She left the number for her hopeful choice

And so they talk – almost every second

Sharing silly actions of their kids

And at night, crying out the message

They feel like no one else can understand

They talk for years, and on the kid's fifth birthday

Cake is gone, and the pack's dismissed

On the couch, watching stupid movies

One will ask permission for a kiss

It is so different; doesn't feel so crucial

And isn't going was too fast to dwell

Just a kiss; only for a moment

"Before…Was not supposed to feel like hell?"

It wasn't. Simple true,

And yet revealing

It makes forgotten feeling bloom again

Of understanding: it was never healthy

They never meant to fall for past's blind spell

A bigger house, build from two by selling

Wider bedrooms, everything fits well

For sweet reminder – bench under the window

For memory of soul-binding bell

But with five kids now,

One from late adoption

Everything just feels so far from "then"

With golden rings, and truthful vows to starlight

And memories in the picture frames

Years and years, time can make the healing

If you move, take steps and let it burn

Forget the painful past – it is her turn now

That was the only lesson she needed to learn