Afterlight

You appeared like a ghost
slowly drifting into focus
on a cold rainy day
you smiled at me
asked if this seat was taken
then sat and asked my name
we talked as the train rolled on
like old friends meeting again
though we had never met
time dissolved around us
stretching endlessly
until the train stopped
the spell broke
and I watched you walk away

⸻

The wind blew gently
as we stood by the lake
distant lights dancing in your eyes
I told a bad joke
you laughed anyway
tucking a strand of hair
away from your face
your arm brushed against mine
and something shifted between us
did you feel it too
or was it only me
I hesitated
you turned away
and the moment never came again

⸻

The horizon stretched on forever
as we walked side by side
along the sand
you ran laughing into the waves
and reached back to take my hand
pulling me closer
our eyes met
your smile was inviting
like the promise of
another life
but my heart was taken
so I let your hand go
the sea kept moving
and we drifted apart

⸻

You sat across from me
crosslegged on the floor
a kitten asleep in your lap
you smiled and took my hand
asked if I could stay
I wanted to
and for a moment
I saw a future
but it was more than I could give
so I pulled away
we never spoke of it again
a silent understanding
and soon you and the kitten
were gone

⸻

All of these moments
these crossroads
I wonder what they made of me
and who I might have been
had anything changed
I don’t know
I can’t know
I only know
they stay with me
even now
not as regrets
or missed opportunities
but as their
afterlight