that night you were
beautiful as ever
that night was the first
so i remember

the campus was silent
the streetlights were far
warm air, a few trees
and a starless night

a purple summer dress
feet bare on the grass
eyes always low
somewhat sad

i said i hated humans
you asked how come
i didn't try to sound smart:
they mostly hurt

i didn't know back then
and you didn't say
while i talked about empathy
you seemed to understand

it did take long
but after a while
i could turn that sadness
into laugh