Two friends,

Both loved books

One had accepted queerness

Other deemed herself ally

 

Joined in the hip

Went where the other was

Physically or mentally

Paranoia struck one

When other disappeared

Is she kidnapped?

What if she has been killed?

Oh,

Crime thrillers

Drove her crazy

 

One found peace

In other

 

Other was hurt

Needed to heal

But her wound was

Back

One decided to help

As her hand touched skin,

Electricity shot up

She  took out her hand

 

 

One hugged other

Other flinched

Stop touching my breasts!!

One is confused

She had always hugged

Why was it

A problem now?

 

Other kept away

One was in pain

She asked her

Many days later

Other said hugs

Made her uncomfortable

One agreed to stop

One was baffled

Friends hugged other

Others didn’t mind

A thought entered,

Did she feel the sizzle too?

 

One realised

Drifting apart

Was better than

Being uncomfortable together

 

Should have asked other

But one was a coward

Other didn’t mind

They became acquaintances

 

 

~Ankita Basu

Kolkata, India