With Love

'She wondered what life would be like
If she was born at a different time.
A time before him, or a time after him.
What a gift it is to be alive at the same time, she thought.
She would never say these words to him
For she knew they would only be received as a plea for affection
But she would say them to herself
Because she believed them to be true

He was no longer speaking to her
But he was surely still speaking about her
The two were no longer in love
But now just two strangers in a grocery store
Strangers in separate isles
Completely unaware that their former lover was just three rows away.
Two strangers with an abundance of beautiful memories.
He would continue to search for love in other men and women
She would decide to be alone
But in this moment, as one looked through bruised vegetables
And the other looked for the right brand of buttermilk bread
They both had hope that their soulmate was out there.

What a gift it is to be alive at the same time, she thought
As she passed by an aisle and saw a familiar face.
He would die four years before her
And she would live to see his wife remarry.
She would be invited to the wedding
For she would be friends with the new husband
As the ceremony would begin
She would go outside and smoke a pack of cigarettes.
What a gift it is to be alive at the same time,
She would think, as she looked at his soulmate
Now ready to marry another.
But for now, she was just grocery shopping
Because she needed to plan for her future without him
As she passed the aisle that he was in
She whispered to herself.
Let me be your violent smile.
Thats what I need.'