You Are Mine

I slip the key into the lock.

Marla says, Where are we?

Home, I say,

switching on the lights,

the white hallway

tinted green from the lightshade.

Marla blinks at me,

blank.

Toffee, I remind her.

I want someone else. Who do I want?

She traces a wonky line

in the woodchip wallpaper

with her fingernail.

You don’t want me here? I ask.

I want to know the answer.

Tears pool in the corner of her eyes.

I do, she says.

But I want someone else too.