Circles

I intended to stay an hour but I barely stayed half. I saw the boyfriend and went up to him with a smile and a hug and gave him my card.

He said, you alone?

I said, how long have you known me? Haven't I always been alone?

And he smiled.

There are circles. And circles within circles. I sit outside the circle.

I sit alone.

I made my way along the outer rim and grabbed a seat. Ordered a tepid Coke because I didn't want beer. And those were the only choices with the cover charge.

It's nice here, outdoors, feels like the beach. That's what it's supposed to feel like.

The boyfriend comes up to me after a while, his plate full of greasy food that he really shouldn't be having, not with his arteries in the condition they are. He feels sorry for me, sitting all alone, so he chats.

I see you there. Dazzling as usual. I see you there but you don't see me. And then you do. You see the both of us chatting. And you raise one hand in acknowledgment and disappear into a crowd, swallowed up by your popularity.

Within all those circles.

I sit outside.

It's not an hour yet, the time I've given myself to be here, but I cannot take it. I'm not as strong as I thought.

I hug the boyfriend, say I only came for a little while; I only came to show my support. He smiles and nods.

He understands.

I leave.

Large gasping breaths, as I make my way demurely to the car I parked far away because I didn't think I'd find a place here.

Farther and farther from the circle containing you.