“I Pretended to Fall Asleep”

By Lindsey Azurin

i pretended to fall asleep

and i hope you never know

i tried to fall asleep

the polyester brushes against my cold arms

your tentative touch

against my cheek

you said you could not fall asleep

gazing out into the highway

i believe you

perhaps among another frigid evening

i long to fall asleep

and i hope

that it will be your shoulder

once more