thenwhen

And thenwhen
they said 'precautionary'
thenwhen we could standup and
open blinds
when we could turn on lights
thenwhen we could stop texting frantic loves
stop asking questions about our sisters
when we could look at each other and breathe
when we could look at each otherat the tiny bookshelf slid infront of the door
the desk on top
thenwhen we could see the absurdity
thenwhen
we could turn on lights
when we could loosen grips on metalrailsrippedfromafilingcabinet
when we could stop anticipatingwhowould come through the doorand
how we would thenwhen we react in ththatt finnal momenttt
thenwhen we were not straining to hear
(a shot
across
campu
s)
thenwhen the world stopped pulsingwhenthe world stopped throbbing like a second gulp of whiskey,

we wondered what to do.

So we sat for a while.
Staring at each other.
Thinking o what it is.
Tostillbestaringstarin.

And then stupid riddles, Simpsons episodes, Apples To Apples, talk of next year