Valentine's Day

Tonight my uber driver’s explaining the details of his long distance relationship. It’s Valentine’s Day which feels meta and not what I was hoping for? But I listen. I ask questions even. He hates that they’re apart tonight of all nights but she’s in Canada and he’s here and has to work so he can afford to see her again soon. He likes to fly, she likes to drive so they alternate. They’re figuring it out. This makes me think of two relationships ago when I pretended to like Bjork more than I actually do. I guess that can happen when you really like someone. But even a lie based in the truth is no good. Like a piece of rotting fruit in the fridge it seems small, but has the power to ruin everything.

Last spring I thought I saw you through the window, standing in the checkout line at Food Town. It was you. I started to feel my pulse in weird parts of my body like behind my knees and at the tips of my elbows. I thought about tapping the glass like maybe this was a movie or even the Truman show and tonight was our second chance at I don’t know what. A song was playing. Not a sad song or a happy song just a song. I stood and watched a old man shuffle out through the automatic doors then down the block. I thought about shouting your name when the glass doors opened up but instead I stayed put and waited for the song to finish