pretty low stakes 

but the thought of it collecting

dust on your shelf 

crept in,

the thought of what lingered 

with it 

shook me guilty

.

you dogeared a few pages,

maybe made it a chunk in

before I asked to swap

mine 

for yours,

thinking this would be the last 

touch

as the wind whipped back

your hair,

pushed your lips into a warmer

smile

.

we were Social Animals,

stuffing down the pang

for a cordial conversation

(10/15/24)