Dreams 2022

Chance Evasion
(5/21/2022)

we are both
sitting
in our vehicles

the only
two
in the parking
lot

waiting
for the store
to open

when
the lights
go on

the doors
open

I exit
my car

start walking
that way

she’s still
looking
at her phone

blonde hair
hanging
down

she
glances up
as I pass

watching
me

pretty

late 40’s
I guess

but I’m
a horrible
guesser

I assume
that she’s
remaining
in her
expensive

locked

SUV
until I'm
safely by

understood

inside
I’m walking
through
one aisle
of interest

when she
comes around
the corner
with her
cart

with her
wedding ring

short

slight

she smiles

I step
aside
in silence

pick up
some pain
patches

then continue
to my next
destination
half the floor
away

as soon
as I bend down
to grab
some drain cleaner
she rounds
that corner
as well

in this otherwise
empty
enterprise

I straighten
in order to
allow her
to pass

but she
stops

stares

smiles
again

“please
go ahead”

she says

“I’ll
move in
behind
you?”

I hesitate
at her questioning
expression

she seems
to be waiting
for me
to say something

OK

is the
the best
that I
can do

trying
to minimize
the interaction
as much
as possible

I turn
with the bottle
without
another glimpse
of her

I don’t
know
what these things
mean

what they’re
supposed
to mean

I always
assume
nothing

unless
I am told

or shown
obviously

the opposite

but I’ve seen
the same look
from women
my entire life

all apparently
waiting
for me
to say
something

to do
something

to make
some sort
of move

I have
none

my knee
hurts

my shower
drain
is clogged

and I
need only
to get
home

to hopefully
remedy
those situations

her situation
is anyone’s
guess

and again

I am
a horrible
guesser

but still

of course

I always
wonder