I saw you today.

Driving past the local swimming pool

You were walking to your car

 I almost stopped

I wanted to run over and hug you

Tell you how much I miss you

And then I looked,

Really looked

You were older than that woman

Heavier, for sure, but not by much

Your hair was shorter, combed back

While hers was in a ponytail

She wore at-shirt and shorts,

Things you would never have worn

And glasses

Black-framed glasses

And then it hit me.

That wasn’t you.

It could have been though,

Years ago.

We spent time together at that pool.

Our kids played in the water

And took swimming lessons

And then there was the infamous birthday party

For our Mikes.

Tons of people came to share the fun

You hired a belly dancer

Which made your Mike laugh!

It wasn’t until later that we both

Crimsoned

Children watched the hip-swaying

And breast jiggling

Scantily clad, amply built woman dance

To blaring music

I miss you, my friend.