I drained my drink an hour ago
while yours has barely been touched
you said you do that when you’re nervous
I smiled because I understood
but I kept my mouth shut
I’ve never seen your color of eyes before
a green so rare to me and genetics
we talked for hours about our families
haunted houses
and our love for our dogs
I don’t love many as much as I love my Harper
you said you’re the same way
about the one who passed
and your lab at home now

fast forward
we have three dates under our belts
throw in a handful of kisses
sprinkle in our daily texts
and when there were lulls
one of us would blame our schedules

four other dates were planned and in the books
but you cancelled on all at the last minute
I bent the rules to some of my deal breakers
I played blind to your failure to communicate
and maybe it’s naïve to say that I’m still hopeful
thinking you’d still risk the long distance
my mom always said that it just takes one
and I thought I got lucky
maybe I had found it
but it’s been two weeks
my question about your new city unanswered
so I guess I’ll come to terms with this just being
yet another lesson

Reagan Fleming