The afternoon of the day you left me
I took you for a walk.
Your eyes bright, steps eager
I threw a ball, and for a moment
You were there, made real
by my heart.
I binned my copy of old yeller
In films I ask ‘does the dog die in this?’[1]
I know the ending of this story
I can’t bin this book
a scan of your heart
cracked mine. A murmur
echoes of future pain
I tried to read more slowly
This book cannot end
add more chapters
change the ending
Your hatred of things that move
Around you
or under you
a shared torture
your worst nightmares
I made you endure
Driven by hope
The afternoon of the day
You left me
I took you for a walk.