by a bonded table we sat
the chairs bolted to
playing cards to a silence
only broken by desperate attempts
to make conversation happen
a silence that said
times had changed
and he sat across the table
my best friends of years past
his hands around her waist
easily resting there
and she looked me in the eyes
and i knew it was over
and i kept my smile rigid
and kept the humor light
while under my eyes
lived demons and sprites
whiskey and moonshine
fire and pain so raw it felt like i had
been skinned
and dipped
into the cold salty waters of an ocean
And for the first time
i sent a silent prayer
for my pain to end
and then she nuzzled him
and the comfort of the movement
ripped me from reality
and as i wept outside
i stacked my cards
won the game
and left
wondering how i could have been so bored with peace
that i invited war into myself