The ties that bind

sometimes I imagine a world where

I never sent you that wink

and you never responded

with those eloquent, insightful words

painting a multi-colored

landscape of possibility in my mind

***

I imagine that I didn't hear

the resonance in your voice

weaving stories of travel adventures

and our first playful hike in the woods

never happened

***

What if we never went on long walks

along the water where I shared

too much of my past and thoughts

of the future

nor did I catch a glimpse

of the sun against your son's soft curls

while he frolicked with mine

***

I imagine that first kiss never happened

and you didn't read my body

as easily as my vocal range

none of those long conversations

into the night occurred

and you certainly never wore your

"heart on [your] sleeve"

though I question the reality of that memory too

***

sometimes I imagine a world where

you and I are still strangers

not unlike we are now

but without the crater between your life

and mine

not having known you in all the ways

***

I imagine a world where one day

I briefly meet your eyes at a random cafe and

you smile at me

wondering why my face feels familiar

each of us taking silent comfort in an

undiscovered simple moment in time

and I am truly free of the ties that bind