You reek of cigarettes.

The doorbell rings
At four in the morning
I reach the door
With blurry eyes
The room smells of smoke
From the candles I lit hours before.

It’s you at the door
Clenching my favourite flowers
Greeting me with a grin
I ask you in my mind
“Where were you last night?
I waited for days and hours
To get a glimpse of this smile.”
Guess you heard me,
Like you always do.
“I was caught up in work”, you say
Giving me reasons for your absence

But,
You reek of cigarettes
And irreversible lies.
I could smell
from your jacket
When I leaned forward
To give you a peck.
The flowers have
The strangest fragrance
Your cheeks scented strawberries
I tousle
Your freshly combed hair
Burying all my queries.

We chat for long
Till you are finally asleep
After making promises
Of yet another dinner
That I regretfully hoped
This time you’d keep.

But for now,
Guess I have to move
As far away from you as I could
To the other side of the bed
You know that I repel
The smell of strawberry and cigarette.