Dallas

I am on a plane

Flying over rugged mountains

Half asleep from early morning rushing

Smiling at my elderly seat counterpart

Counting the hours

Until I reach Dallas

And still, you find me here.

The smile that I can’t fit into

Words on a page

The delicate words

That tore me apart

The peaceful goodbye-

Painfully quiet

I am still aching in places unknown.

I thought I could escape you

With carefully packed luggage

Boarding pass?

Check.

Carry-on?

Check.

I’ve carried you with me

Seventy two days now

My heart, unthinking, continues to whisper:

Hold me in your thoughts

Love

In a secret embrace

Somehow,

Someday

I’ll let you go.