turn. smile. shift. repeat.

"So what do we do now?"

Frigid cold. And I wasn't sure if it was the winter chill, or the distance between us.

She opened her mouth to answer--

"I don't know." I finished for her.

She looked at me, eyes brimming with irresolute hate.

We let the traffic drown out the silence.

"Well, I'll call you then." Leaving enough of an awkward pause to let her know that I wasn't going to.

Then came the one moment after every quarrel. That one chance to swallow your pride and fix things. For that one word of apology that makes everything alright again.

I bit my tongue. And turned to walk away.

She was about to say something, then stopped herself.

She'd finally realized that we all say goodbye in our own ways.


-- from 'How I Learnt To Stop Loving'

. Arigato .