Luna Came to Town Today

Luna came to town today. 

She asked me to meet her by the station,

in a coffee shop; nothing too fancy. 

She was leaving in the evening anyway. 

We shared a cordial hello,  

followed by a barrage of customary 

hows, whats, and wheres, 

then quickly regressed to entertaining each other 

with memories of happier days together: 

Remember this coffee shop? 

It used to be so vibrant and full of life. 

We used to come here all the time 

and talk about history, politics, 

music, philosophies; sweet nothings. 

We were too young— 

Now, all this derelict edifice brewed  

was overpriced cappuccinos and regret. 

We sat there drinking down 

saccharine coffees and palpable silence. 

I took a sip, stared at the foams disappear; 

sipped once more, noticed her do the same. 

Our eyes met and we smiled again. 

She flipped through the grimy, dog-eared menu, 

then quietly placed it back on the table. 

She glanced at the ugly wall clock behind her. 

I asked her if she had any plans for dinner. 

She ignored my query 

and carried on from where she’d left: 

Are you in touch with the others from the gang? 

Did you know they got married after we left? 

Were you invited to the wedding? 

I don’t remember going to one. 

They always thought we’d get married. 

We were too volatile anyway. 

Aren’t you getting married? 

No plans? I see. 

She looked at her phone, 

and then through the open window. 

I saw a taxi pull over at the station gate. 

She quickly turned to me, 

beaming with a burdened smile, 

and rose from her chair to leave: 

Ah, shucks! My cab is here already. 

I am sorry I couldn’t stay for long. 

I am moving to a new city soon; 

new faces, new place, new life. 

But please do visit me there. 

We will have all the time to catch up then. 

With those words she scurried out, 

clutching her coat close to her heart. 

I stayed behind and paid the bills, 

saw her get into the cab, 

I pulled back my chair to leave, 

and she was gone. 

*** 

The last time we had met, 

it was at the wedding of a mutual friend. 

But she did not stay for too long then. 

She was moving to a new city soon; 

new faces, new place, new life. 

She implored me to visit her in this new city 

 and then left without saying goodbye. 

I never went.