believe believed belief
bereave bereaved bereft
how a word a thought changed to another
the day you left
leave
I touch the letter
I touch the letter your lover sent before you left. I can feel the heat, the sparks on my cool fingers. Perhaps, then, you were right. Heat cancels all promises and trust.
The first time
You said let’s give each other presents on Sunday. It’s our one-month anniversary.
You gave me cufflinks in a velvet box, I gave you a meat pie in a greasy bag and then had to pretend it was a joke and your real present was at home and I was saving it for our 33-day anniversary because that was my lucky number.
That was the second time I lied to you but I only did it for good reasons. I knew I was not good enough for you no matter what you said.
The third time I lied to you was when I said it was fine you were leaving and that you had to do what was best for you and everything would be ok. Then I didn’t have another chance to lie to you.
Shell
I can hear the sea.
Don’t listen too long.
I can hear the sea calling.
Don’t listen.
I can hear the sea calling me home.
Don’t.
Please don’t.
Gasp
The ‘g’ of ‘goodbye’ caught in her throat like a gasp. She could not say it. Through the train window he was checking his phone.
Return
Single to Alloa.
Not coming back?
No, that’s my last time.
That’s a shame.
It’s the only way.
Well, see you then.
No. No.
Double
Same again pal.
Here you go.
Cheers. And again.
No worries.
Make the next one a double.
She gone again?
Aye. Gone for good.
Aye.
simonsalento 