he smiles like pop

rocks, sugary and crack

ling

he clears his throat

and i can see the flower

nurturing sidewalk cracks

on the lower side of his face

he opens the door for me

i ask myself if this is how

we fall apart

if this is when i see him

the same way last

and when the football

stadium cotton candy

memories of his favorite song

and how he loves dragon

fruit and his loud personality

or how his eyes scrunch

up when he laughs or how

his voice is almost sandpaper

will fade away.

i wake up again and he's

still smiling at me.

(i could have been his)