Lydia and Pascale: I didn’t know smiling 

for that long could make

my cheeks feel like someone else’s.

 

We were baking comfortably in that bed.

Our laughter sounded like letting 

loose untied balloons in pairs of threes.

 

I wanted to scoop 

cookie dough into spheres on a pan

then ask you to eat them all at once because

your friendship is ten mouth-full’s

and when I said the word hope

I wanted you to feel what I did

when we took turns starting conversations with

“It’s okay to not be okay, friend”

 

We put generous chunks of vulnerability in the oven. 

We cooked a snuggle fest at our favorite temperature 

arms and legs melted together, like the chips

we allowed ourselves to sink and spread thin.

 

I recognize this unconditional love;

my mom has modeled it

since the first time I licked the spoon.

 

Lydia and Pascale: our non-verbal communication was

filled with buttery pockets of “I love you.”

that was why I baked you her recipe 

and I will continue to.