two people loved each other
but missed one another
by a single thread

in the same building
she waited for the elevator up
while he took the stairs down

the ding of a heartbeat
prompts her to walk in
as he walks out

they cross each other’s minds
but there is no glance back
no piercing eye contact

they simply pass by each other
quietly, surreptitiously
not realizing their proximity

to the hopeful fate
that they have wished for
but which remains unreachable