“I need more time,”

he says, 
earnestly.

I need more, too,
I want to respond.

I need more time
with you
knowing it will not
be something
fleeting
or fallible.

“I’m content
and happy,”

he reasons.

I am too,
I want to say.

I am so happy
that I’m unsure
if I can ever be as joyful
if you were not here
to share in it.

"More time,"

we both request

with different reasons
for wanting the same thing.