"I've only got an hour."
she says.
Her eyes
bold and fast.
--abrupt in letting him know.
She wouldn't allow herself
to stay the night.
Not tonight.
She had to make
herself go.
"Okay." He said.
"If that's what you want."

She didn't respond;
kept her face still, hard and gaunt.

"Why did you come here?
You know an hour's not enough."

Again she said nothing,
and he drank his tea in disgust.
"I wanted to see you.
Had to see
How you've grown."

"What's there to see when
you know I'm alone."

The paper lanterns hanging moved ever so slightly
She reached out, touched his hand.
Their fingers kissed lightly.