[exit west, cold]

ice water and beer caught in our respective throats
we refuse to acknowledge the shaking
instead rigid
to stare over shoulders
and i map every speck of
dust that passes behind you

an early september chill breathes us in
and decides it likes us very much
keeps us in place
in our restaurant booth
red and crashing and
clashing against our eyes
both of them

helping the darkness
of your skin marking shadows on mine
dashed lines placed to
show where you have been
and emptiness for where you have yet
to travel

too late for driving but
you leave anyway
and we still don't look at each other
but you hand me a napkin
and wave

and your vibrations sync
symphonious simple loss against time

too late to let them go