Their Next Chapter

Their Next Chapter

 

The wait had been torture,

the ticks of the clock inched by

like on old man creeps,

straining to get by.

 

Sitting at the designated spot,

she sat at a table for two.

Looking out the window

At the ocean blue.

 

Its crashing waves symbolic

to the nerves within her belly.

She was grateful to be seated,

for her legs were as jelly.

 

It had been years since she had seen him,

and she’d been surprised when he called her up.

She tried to imagine the reason he wanted to meet

after a long silent rut.

 

She hadn’t been sure she’d come,

but here she was, waiting for him.

Now, she was asking herself if he’d show,

as she breathed a deep breath on a whim.

 

Hearing the opening of the door,

as before, her head turned.

This time, it was the man she once loved,

her heart raced; her stomach churned.

 

It took a split second for his eye to find hers,

as a smile curled his natural pink lips.

He sauntered over to her table,

and his cowboy hat, he tips.

 

“Hi there.” he said.

“Hi” was all she could say.

He sat opposite her,

looking full into her face.

 

The two talked for two hours

before noticing that time

had sped along--

it had swept by.

 

The nerves which had assailed her

were now no more.

Even still, she was amused

that time was as before.

 

When time to make leave,

it was a sure thing that they’d meet again.

But it was obvious,

their next chapter was about to begin.

 

Melinda McQueen Rodgers

June 15, 2021