CHAI

Morning.

Chai.

Steam.

Quiet.

Her eyes.

Pause.

“What?”

Nothing.

I said nothing.

Still—

something wrong.

Tone.

Word.

Look.

Which?

I search.

Yesterday.

Last night.

Three years.

Nothing.

Her face—

injured.

Certain.

My mind—

Confused.

Explanation.

Another.

Another.

No.

Silence.

Distance

smaller room.

Later—

Soft again.

Almost warm.

Almost normal.

A thought dies

in my throat:

What happened?

Tomorrow—

Chai.

Steam.

Quiet.

Waiting.

Enough.