“And suddenly, we were stranger again.”

Anonymous

To You, My Severed Arm

My face goes red when your door closes

I stomp around and scream and become a child

I cannot explain why

I get no message when you are gone for hours

Did we have plans?

I suppose it does not matter now

I am going to bed

I will not lock the door because you do not have your key

I will turn off your bedside light for you

I will leave a bowl of chicken and rice on your shelf in the fridge

You will laugh and dance and kiss and be delighted

You spend the night in comfort with something more than I want to give to you

I will leave a bowl of chicken and rice on your shelf in the fridge

I am alone in this apartment as I will be in my own

Some city or another

Nowhere near Seattle

Nowhere near you

It is empty but I stick my hand back into the tree stump

I feel around

You are not inside

I do not exist

Do you need to be kissed more than you need to be a friend?

Must you go so effortlessly?

Maybe you have fallen to the bottom of the tree stump

That is it, that must be it, I will come get you

I feel around

You are not inside

I do not exist

You cannot, you must not see me now

I hope the kiss feels nice

I do not exist

I will leave a bowl of chicken and rice on your shelf in the fridge