Anneka-Rose Galletly

You built me a house
from sounds we made together
things said without the restraint of language
four walls and a roof
a couple windows, too
and I pushed,
so I knew
you—
all of you
not just when dust echoed in sunlight,
bathing naked bodies
in ethereal sweating glow
so I could sit with you in the shadows
untouched by open windows
and see if the walls trembled
There’s a special kind of hate
reserved only for lovers
and I searched for it in your eyes
but
when I found it,
I didn’t know what to do
Passion is conceited
flaunting itself on angered lips
but
passion has conceded that it is not always needed,
for the deceit of affection
to persist
comfortable silence I’d prefer
instead of the outrage or the violence
that could have risen from words left unsaid
But we’ve always chosen noise
to fill up the void
that waits aside our bed
the bed frame snapped
your walls came down
you spoke your mind
I found I knew you both better
and less
in time.
Your morals, weathered –
were they instilled in rock or silt?
All it took was for you to be left alone.
And what happens now?
I’m looking to you, and you’re looking to me
And there’s a box of matches tucked between us, between the sheets
What now?
Paint the house red, set it alight and say it was never there.
Author: Anneka-Rose Galletly is a Gold Coast based, emerging writer. Her passion for writing stems from a desire to examine the human condition. She believes that within the deconstruction of existence and consciousness lies the yellow brick road to cultivating a deeper connection to the communion of humanity. Insta handle: anneka_rosie
Artist: Cyndra Galea (she/they) is in the third year of her Bachelor of Fine Art’s in Creative Writing with a minor in Professional Communications. When not found with her head in a book or three, Cyndra can be found radioactive antique hunting, fixing classic cars with her dad, working in their vegetable garden, drawing on her iPad, or writing and editing her manuscript. Cyndra aims to work in the publishing industry when she finishes university, but also dreams of releasing novels of their own.
Accessibility Reader: Tuesday Tomlins
Editors: Rory Hawkins and Tracy Channell