And of course I said yes.
Because staying single,
caged in religious
doctrine and rumors did not appeal to me.
Especially when every syllable of my name on his lips
fisted my chest, squeezed to aching. 

Good girls always wait, but my
honor had been ruined, stolen. 
I was used goods; chewed up bubble gum;
just a rumored whore. The opposite of good.

Knowing me, just me, he didn’t seem to care.
“Let me love you,” he said.
*
My name is Sarah this morning. Just Sarah.

New. Only a few more hours until I will be new,
or, at the very least, changed. I will leave behind
people who spread their judgment and concern
quietly in prayer requests and sewing circles.

Riding the high of rebellion and tangled-together
sleep, we daydream our way towards home. Our home.
Together we drive between mountains and slip
under overpasses until, at last,
vivid blue skies open to reveal
windows dripping golden honey-sun into the
xylophone of my ribs and exposed nerves.
yellow comfort to chase away everything.

Zealous, we make promises and kiss away the past.