semester abroad

our meeting was entirely happenstance,
the kind that happens in movies
that leave your heart aching, and mind racing,
"that never happens in real life."

but her smile was like a warm wall,
always halting me where i stood.
i would often get lost in her eyes,
and she would do little to help me get out.

and even though i was only visiting,
i quickly fell in love with her oversized sweaters,
matching colored wool socks,
and tea with her family.

we had lots of time to talk,
high "petrol" costs meant
everyone rode the bus --
unless it was a special occasion.

and it rains a lot there, you know.
but we didn't mind
being stuck inside.
we had each other -- in more ways than one.

afterward, the only sounds were
the soft sound of her breathing
and quiet noise of the radio news,
talking about pileups on streets i didn't know.

when it was time, she drove me --
yes, with her car -- to the airport.
my shoulder was ripe for crying on then,
i had done most of mine alone the night earlier.

of those final moments,
i do not remember much.
only the final words she said,
lyrics from her favorite song:

don't forget me, i beg,
i remember you said,
sometimes it lasts in love,
but sometimes it hurts instead.