Sweet as Candy: A Novel in Verse

Careful

Despite the lack of possession between the two of us

Todd’s still pretty attached to me.

Perhaps I did give him something

Other than a bit of fun.

Maybe I accidentally threw him some feelings

That he just so happened to catch.

That’s mostly his problem

Though I have to admit

It’s a bit annoying

When he texts me every few minutes

Practically begging on his knees

To see me again.

All day

Izzy and I tidy up the house for Alex’s arrival

My phone blowing up with texts from my zitty Romeo

All the while.

At one point

Izzy picks up the phone to see what all the ruckus is about.

She frowns upon looking at the screen.

I stop wiping down the counter.

“What is it?” I ask.

Izzy shakes her head.

“Nothing,” she says.

“It’s obviously something.”

I drop the dishtowel.

“You’re acting weird. What’s up?”

She sighs

Abandoning the phone.

She faces me

Eyes solemn

Hands on her narrow hips.

“That Todd fellow is texting,” she says.

I almost burst into laughter at her use of the word ‘fellow’

But remain composed for her sake.

“And?”

“He seems to be pretty serious about your relationship.”

The laughter bubbling in my chest finally overflows.

“He may be,” I say

“But the feeling isn’t mutual.”

Izzy’s frown deepens.

“Candace,” she says.

“I want you to be careful.”

A twinge of nervousness hits me in the stomach.

Okay

‘Careful’ isn’t really my forte.

Perhaps it’s hereditary.

Whatever the cause

I throw caution to the wind

More often than Izzy would probably like to know.

I can’t let her know that, though.

Can’t have my caregiver

Dropping dead in the middle of the living room.

So I smile

Sickly sweet

Secretly insincere.

“Of course I’m careful,” I say.

“No need to worry about that.”