I THINK I'M FALLING IN LOVE WITH KIERA

As I lay on the bed's clean white sheets, staring at the ceiling
in the cheapest place in town,
with a dusty carpet and dusty stained upholstered furniture,
I missed the woman I dated in graduate school.
She used to call such places "Gross!" and hated staying in them,
and always wanted to stay in 3 star hotels and higher,
but compromised half of the time because she didn't care -
as long as she got to lay next to me, because she loved me. (And I loved her.)

It was ironic that I thought of her
instead of Katie or Kiera, who would have stayed in such places without compromise.
Katie would have laughed at the "adventure" if she were with me.
Kiera stayed in a hostel for 6 weeks in Berlin, living in it.

But there I lay and thought of all the good things about
the woman I loved in graduate school.
I loved her so much.
We had such a good relationship.
And the only thing she wanted from me
was for me to compromise more, to show her that I love her.
That I who never compromises, would do so for her.
And for me to settle down and marry her,
instead of looking for someone like me.

I missed cuddling her, as I lay in that bed.
It's been hard for me to imagine cuddling anybody except her when
I try to sleep at night (including Katie).

I resolved to marry her if Kiera didn't want to date me,
and would tell Kiera the next day.
Or at least ask Kiera if she wanted me to stay free for the possibility.