I drew her on at seven with lip and line and blush. I told her, don't say nothin' - you're prettier in hush. she took the stairs before me. she shook a stranger's hand. by midnight she was laughin' at jokes I never planned. they love her when she's talkin'. they don't ask where I went. she's better at me than I am. she don't flinch and she don't fade. I only meant to borrow her for one night - and now she's stayed. she answers when they call me. she signs my name in ink. she picked the dress I'm wearin'. she don't ask what I think. she's got my mother's number. she's got my side of bed. I say the things she'd say now before they're in my head. they toast her at the table. they don't count who's absent. she's better at me than I am. she don't flinch and she don't fade. I only meant to borrow her for one night - and now she's stayed. I held my face under the tap. I scrubbed until it stung. the color went down easy. the smile stayed where it hung. and I looked up and there she was, still standin' in my place. I said give me back my mouth - she just smiled with my face. she's better at me than I am. she don't flinch and she don't fade. I only meant to borrow her for one night - and now she's stayed. and now she's stayed.
