Tuesday Morning at Half Past Midnight

Your dress was covered in polka-dots,
the straps hanging loosely from your shoulders,
as I stood in the doorway with the light
from outside splintered across
my solemn face.

Your eyes were deep encased with
black rings from the make up you had
worn. You hadn’t expected the tears,
although we both might have known.

I didn’t know what to say
as I watched you
draped on the bed,
the epitome of sorrow.

And instead of holding you hair back
and kissing your forehead, as I
should; instead of holding your shoulders
and asking what went wrong,

I walked off to the rest of this lonely house
and left your tears with you
and my fears with me.

Who Wants a Spotless Record Anyway? (Inquisitive Ending)

Sitting in my car
outside your house.
It was raining heavily. I was
waiting for you to finish
brushing your teeth.
I had been reading from
the book of words
but they were beginning to
meld and move
so instead I sat
in silence and listened
to the sound of the rain
on the roof.
And as I sat there,
watching the rocks outside
getting wetter
and wetter,
I knew that someday
you would disappoint me.

Was I wrong?

Who Wants a Spotless Record Anyway? (Hopeful Ending)

Sitting in my car
outside your house.
It was raining heavily. I was
waiting for you to finish
brushing your teeth.
I had been reading from
the book of words
but they were beginning to
meld and move
so instead I sat
in silence and listened
to the sound of the rain
on the roof.
And as I sat there,
watching the rocks outside
getting wetter
and wetter,
I knew that someday
you would disappoint me
and be done.

But I didn’t care.

Who Wants a Spotless Record Anyway? (Open Ending)

Sitting in my car
outside your house.
It was raining heavily. I was
waiting for you to finish
brushing your teeth.
I had been reading from
the book of words
but they were beginning to
meld and move
so instead I sat
in silence and listened
to the sound of the rain
on the roof.
And as I sat there,
watching the rocks outside
getting wetter
and wetter,
I knew that someday
you would disappoint me.