Reunion

Even though I've seen you
hundreds of times
I couldn't sleep last night
thinking about our lunch date
today
I had a case of nerves so bad
my stomach was sick
Even though it made no sense
I couldn't talk myself
out of it

I meet you for Mexican
and your kind eyes
look at me
the same way they did
years ago

Over rice and beans
we exchange pleasantries
It isn't until
you walk me to my car
that the truth comes
flowing out
and in those moments
in your comforting embrace
I find redemption
a taste of peace
the soft and warm reception
a feeling I'd imagined
tried to recreate
so many nights
scared and lonely
missing you
head against a pillow
that could never approximate
your living breathing loving being
with your heart
thump thump thumping inside
a beautiful bloody drum
beating out the rhythm
of a melody I remember
as if we'd never
skipped
a beat