~

alone, sitting at a table

in the school coffee shop

just before closing. i'm reading.

she comes in and we make eye-contact

and understand. we talk.

there is no question what she wants,

but i am not there, i've been

on my own so seldom 

in life that i am relishing my freedom

from entanglements. we walk

home together, it's dark, it's wet,

but we separate when our paths diverge.

again, clearly, she wants this to happen.

the next night it is literally 

the same scenario. i'm in the coffee shop and et cetera.

the difference is i go back 

to her apartment because i can't stand

hurting her feelings again. 

which puts me in which circle of hell?

~