The candlelight 
flickered 

the only witness

to the silence between us

Menus in hand,

but nothing to choose

that we hadn't already tasted

Your eyes

scanned the room
like it might hold
a better version of us.

The waiter brought
two glasses of wine,

and I drank both

as if the bottom
held a reason to stay

Two plates arrived,

and we picked at them,

like archaeologists 
sifting
through remains
of glory days

And when the bill came,

we split it,

as if we'd been rehearsing
how to leave for years.