MATTERS OF HIS HEART

He says he’ll be working late again
or maybe meeting old-school friends.
on the coach she coils, desperately
waiting to hear how the two-days’ seminar went
It’s a lie, she knows that.

Glasses are raised across the table
Is it to his now boring wife?
Or a toss to Rachel, ex, now colleague?
She is still in the past
hardworking. principled. charming and more beautiful.
it redrives him crazy;
he imagines her over the table
till a slap lands hard on his left cheek
‘it’s Carol for night’s sake.’
He gremace in pain
fumbles between sorry and confusion
all lies. It’s her neither .

his phone beeps
‘I miss you,’ reads her message
frowns. puts it aside.
She’s beautiful,
or so he still thinks when asked.

the house is cold and lonely.
fifteen minutes long
and she’s hungry again
fixes a quick tea and fries
then checks the phone
No reply.

Everyday would be a wedding gift
they thought
smiles. kisses. beauty
But time changes all
may revive theirs too
unless ‘she eats less and shapes back’
he tells himself;
and she grieves alone
of their five-moons’ fetus loss.

Tell me; I ask
did for -better – for – worse mean anything?
A mistake. All he answers.