I didn’t take it seriously until she said
Life is fun, after telling me of a pain she couldn’t put into words
And I saw it in her eyes

Then I took it too seriously and said
I never know what I’ll do when I’m with you, except finally be myself
And I saw it in her eyes

Now I’m left with the memory of her sitting on the edge of the bed
In the dark
And I’m not sure what I saw

Robert Bailey lives in Washington DC and this is his first published piece