She always left br the bed unmade, br br left the sheets and covers br pushed back, br br let in some air, br let the smells of night br br and making love depart. br And there was br br the occasional br making of love, br br the now and then br exchange of fluids, br br the kisses on flesh, br the fingerings, br br the sighs and yeses, br the catching br br of moonlight br through uncurtained br br windows. br She left the bed br br unmade like some br symbolic gesture; br br a sign of this br is how it is br br with me br statement. br br Men and women br have wrestled br br with love br and doubts here, br br she seemed br to want to say. br br Two indented pillows br on either side br br of the bed, br two holders br br of the frail br human head. br br She left br the unmade bed br br with stains and smells br and memories br br soaked in br as each particle br br of cloth held br and branded br br the human state br of sin.