My reflection stares back at me
from a shattered mirror
red-eyed from tears cried in vain
for a day long gone
when all he wanted was
the fairy tale
I’ve wept a thousand times
and thrown phones containing
his undialed number a hundred more
I’ve looked for him in songs and books
one night stands and too many bottles
I thought I saw him in a coffeehouse
an airport a grocery store
I’ve lain awake so many nights
wondering if he’d ever done the same.

© Crystal S. McDonald.