Chapter 13 of 22

interlude

[regular pain, different love]

there was a time

that i learned an

important

lesson

that

heartbreak is not always

a girlfriend

giving up

or right love

at the

wrong time

heartbreak

can be having

to let go of things

you can not change

-a few words on heartbreak to preface the next poem

every day

she would tell me

"olivia."

"yes?"

"i'm happy today"

"that's good, i'm glad."

every day

she would ask me

seven times

"are you coming tomorrow?"

"yes, are you?"

"yeah."

"good, see you there."

they would tell me:

"she's been asking about you all morning."

"is olivia your favorite?" "yes."

"olivia, you're so good with her."

i thought she wanted to make sure i was coming every day.

i thought she really did enjoy being with me.

and maybe she did.

but one day she stopped asking.

and started other things.

the tenth time in one sitting:

"olivia."

"yes?"

"is she coming?"

"yes. she's coming today."

"when is she coming?"

"i dont know, when is she coming?"

"morning."

"no, what are we about to eat? breakfast or lunch?"

"lunch."

"so when is she coming?"

"she is coming at lunch."

"yep."

"she is coming at lunch."

"she is coming at lunch."

"she is coming at lunch."

"she is coming at lunch."

"she is coming at lunch."

the fifth time since she arrived:

"olivia, she's here."

"yes, she is."

one time, someone told me:

"she obsesses over you, and then when you come, she obsesses over

[she, a name i cant reveal]"