A beautiful head of hair offered her a drink.
She had to drive home.

High cheekbones and a leather jacket asked her to dance.
She was never a good dancer.

Tall and lean made eyes from across the room.
She turned away.

Friendly and endearing made small talk on the stool next to her.
Weather.
Music.
Occupations.

“So, are you… in a relationship?”
She looked down at her hands.
A white line against bronze skin seared with absence.

“No,” finally,”not anymore.”

I packed it all away.

Every note, trinket, labour of love.

I had to got through it all
first.
Told myself it was more closure.

Closure.
Closure.
Closure.

I’ve had a year to close around,
no, away from
you.

I packed it all away.

Your handwriting is even harder to read through
water
water
drowning
water.

When deciding whether it's better to
avoid
ignore
go numb
than to
feel
hurt
and cry
remember why.

Why you'd rather
work
talk
and clean
than
sit
lounge
twiddling thumbs.

Why you'd rather it
rain
snow
or be sunny
than
equilibrium
gray
with thin clouds.

Why
idle
steady
clean
hands are a sign of inexperience, and
sore
throbbing
tired
feet are worthwhile.

Remember
every
single
time
that you're only happy when it rains
but
sun
and cold
will never get old.