this day was not like any other.
hot air from her lungs
swirled steam in the death
of November.
I felt trust for the first time.
I trusted her to leave.
I crack a corny joke out of sheer anxiety,
I say: "Well, it is the fall."
She doesn't smile, or speak, of course.
She does the talking with her eyes,
and all I hear is goodbye.
(C) Shang