Neighbours

I wanted to tell you
a story that would give you hope.

Instead, I sit in silence,
turn the pages of a book
I’m not reading.

I realize I’m grinding my teeth
so I take a deep breath

and head to the kitchen,
pour myself a drink,
and look out the window
into my neighbour’s window
where they stand.

We raise our glasses
to each other.

They turn away.
I close the curtains.

Perhaps one day we’ll speak

of the time

we wordlessly raised our glasses

across the empty walkway

in the early evening

and smile.

I return to my book.

Start the chapter again.