I Lied

We were sitting on the couch together 

She was curled up in my lap like a cat

When she looked up

And asked me

When the last time I cried was

I said, “Oh, I definitely cry. It's just been awhile . . .” 

I lied. 

“It's so sad when men cry.”

“Yeah . . .”

She didn't know that a few hours before

When I was trying to forget the fact that she had two more days in town with me

Before she flew back across the country 

That a few tears had rolled down my face 

Because I knew 

How much it would hurt

When she was gone. 

I lied because I didn’t want to make her sad. 

That’s probably a good reason to lie . . . 

-CH 6/25/25