Heartless blue skies gave her
a flawless tan.
At work, she ate her fruit, frozen in contemplation of
the kiss that never would be.
She kept up the routine for weeks,
trying not to keep track of
the time he was absent (33.5 days). Her
mind raced, but gained no traction.
On dim nights she took a drink, a lover, or tissues to bed,
though none of them were able to cure what ails her.
For etouffee.