In the video game you are a man with a gun

and I am a man with a gun
and our only choices
are to shoot or to walk away

or to change weapons or to drink a magic potion
or or or.

When put this way
our choices are nearly limitless
and we are pixelated in our indecision.

I decide that I want you to kiss me, so I say
kiss me,

it’s easy: fill the shallow of my back with your hand
and pull me towards you.

To do this, you will have to empty your hands

but each time you try to let go of your revolver
you find something else

in its place, a bazooka maybe
or a comically large knife, a rifle
or a grenade; a series of useless things.

In the end
the best you can do is a fist

and you move towards me
holding it outstretched.

This time I ask you to kiss me, kiss me, I ask
and I ask again, pleading now,

but the question
leaves my mouth wet, unintelligible.

And my eye is already beginning to swell shut.
And I wish you would stop apologizing.