you poured the batter
with a kind of hope
measured by feeling
not recipe
the pan was hot
but maybe not hot enough
or maybe you flipped too soon
thinking golden meant ready
they looked perfect
stacked
warm
something to serve
but when i cut in
the center clung to my teeth
soft, sticky
a half-formed promise
i didn’t spit it out
just chewed slowly
finished the whole plate
not because it was perfect
but because you made it
no drizzle
no butter
no powdered charm
could fix the part
we never gave time to rise
just kept wondering
if it was cooked through
and i kept saying
it was fine
i knew
you didn't really like
making pancakes