The Conversation (Part II)

II.

he
talks
to her
in low
M.E.A.S.U.R.E.D
tones
she responds
with carefully
crafted
nonchalance
she still has
N.O.T.H.I.N.G.
to say
just
shakes
her
head
wonders
what he sees when he looks at her
a weary child in boys' clothes
what in the world could possibly draw him
to that?
let it go…he'll forget about it
soon enough
in the meantime…
are we F.R.I.E.N.D.S. again? she asks
were we ever
not? he replies,
smiling.
she lets him
hug her
he feels oddly
F.R.A.G.I.L.E.
as though his bones
could crumble to dust
in her arms