the “understanding”

there had been a lack of desire
on both parts & while one party
might have fallen away quicker,
the fact remained that the two of them
wanted to keep every aspect of their
lives the same, with a slight change
in which they could
“see other people,”
“have an open marriage,”
etc.,
etc.,
etc.

as time went on,
one party revealed more than the other
that this “understanding” between them
was less savory than it had initially
seemed &
secretly, held inside, they began to
fall for the person who no longer shared
their bed,
all over again---
however,
just like the little children
which they both often resembled,
what with their drama, spats &
fighting in the sandbox,
party #2 did not
disappoint &
found themselves deep in the pants of
another, younger, more energetic
personality,
who did not judge them
as if they’d known them forever
(as said spouse notoriously had,
like they were somehow entitled to
engaging in such criticism).

in an agreed upon arrangement,
the party in love became jealous,
trying to make like it wasn’t bothering them,
attempting to go on with the rest of their
life ignoring the new spring in their spouse’s
step,
but it becomes slow torture, this
waiting for the other to come around &
one can only kid themselves for so
long, before they come to the understanding
with themselves, that they have been
had.