Stay

Katrina Kaye

and when they
ask: were there tears?

yes, there were tears

and when they
wonder: where you angry?

no, I felt no anger
only loss, only failure

but his arms
were shaking with
so much anger

yes, there was sadness,
not exactly confessions

I didn’t want to know his
he already knew mine

denial? bargaining?
yes, those were there too

but in the end
he never asked me to stay
and I never asked him
if I could

“Stay” is previously published in Brickplight (2021).

Brickplight – Katrina Kaye