For a minute there was hope
as my eyes brushed yours
as I looked for a free seat in a packed cafe
and I saw
next to you
a chair
and I saw
your smile
warm and familiar
like an old, tattered book
and I saw
your mug
half-filled, half-empty
and as I moved towards you
someone else sat in the chair next to you
she was bright and shiny like plastic
and she put her hand on yours
and I saw
your smile
slip away
as I did
looking for another cafe