Judith: when I was with you I was real
When I was with you I could be myself
When I was with you I didn’t feel
Lost, confused, or frightened
Or scared to be who I am
When I was with you I was real
We both think you look great in a knit sweater
We both enjoy an empty cafe
We both are actual human beings to waiters
We both are not totally straight
None of that changes
None of that has changed.
Okay?
Jase (skeptical): okay.
Judith: we both like drinking hot tea in warm weather
We both like playing guitar
We both like when you tell me the plots of bad movies
We both forget our card at the bar
Almost always
When I was with you I was real
When I was with you I could be myself
When I was with you I was real
Like as real as my retainer that I left at your house one time
When I am with you I am real
Judith (cont’d): now, do you remember what I said the first time
We did the questions? about my perfect day?
Jase: yes, you said that tomorrow could be the perfect day,
If we let it be.
Jase (cont’d): that’s not the kind of answer you forget, especially
When the person answering it is wearing a low cut blouse.
Judith: you thinking about my blouse?
Jase (laughing): i’m remembering it. do you remember my answer?
Judith: the broad strokes. a picnic in the park with your
Family, a mini-muffin basket for lunch,
Everyone getting together under a big blanket and
Watching the entire third season of the office.
Jase: still true.
Judith: and i’d still want to be there with you.
Judith (cont’d): question 5: “when was the last time you sang to
Yourself? to someone else?”
Jase: this afternoon, to henry.
Judith: what about to yourself?
Jase: he only stayed for half.
Judith: the last time I sang was on my way over here in the car.
Jase (incredulous): you sang? what did you sing?
Judith: oh i’m gonna die out here
Jase: oh that hit, I forgot about that one.
Judith: yeah. and I think that counts as me singing to
Someone else. ask me the next one.
Jase: question 6: “if you were able to live to the age of
90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life,
Which would you want?”
Judith: do you remember my answer?
Jase: body. do you remember mine?
Judith: mind. see? nothing has changed.
We’re still a good half-sexy team.
Question 7: “do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?”
You said that you thought you were going to die in your car,
But you weren’t sure how.
Jase: right? and you said that you weren't afraid of death.
Judith: and i’m still not. i’m only afraid of dying alone.
Read the next one.
Jase: question 8: “name three things you and your partner
Appear to have in common.”
Judith: easy.
We both are super good at settlers of catan
We both become monsters when we lose
We both think we have the best worst name for a band
We both check twitter for our news
There’s four!
Jase: we both say the other is better at cooking
We both hate that kitchen island we built
We both need a glass of water on the bedside table
We both recycle purely out of guilt
Both: we both have dreams much bigger than ourselves
We both think that’s how to live
We both put up a fight for all the right reasons
And we both eventually give
Jase: I tried so hard to separate
Who you are from who you were
But now i’m reevaluating
How similar you are to her
You have the same voice
And the same cadence when you speak
If I close my eyes
You still sound to me like natalie
When I was with you I was real (was I in love with natalie)
When I was with you I could be myself (or who’s right in front of me?)
When I am with you I can feel (i admit that I feel)
Both: shivers running down my spine
Your skin close to mine
It’s like my five senses
Make my heart defenseless
With you
When I am with you I am real (with you)
When I am with you I am actually too real (with you)
When I am with you everything feels so real