Train #26

“I’m writing down the names of all my friends,

In case I get amnesia,” he says to me in confidence

As he leans forward in his seat and types into the phone.

Behind him, on the other side of the glass, trees and fields

And snow alternate in the winter trainscape flitting by.

Willem, Jade, Matthew, Danny, Robert, Tye…

“No girls are your friends?” I ask. He stops and thinks for an instant;

“Kira,” he says, writes it down, then puts the phone away

And looks at me, “What do you wanna do now?” –

His signature refrain, to which in the past couple of days

We did some Munchkin-playing, speed-drawing, Netflix-watching,

Coin-hockey-shooting… What do I want to do?

Stay on this train a little longer, munch on the chocolates

From the box I’ll sneak into your bag in a while, share

Some giggles and silly faces and decide who does it better,

Tell you to put on your socks… Instead, I am aware

Of my approaching stop, and how getting closer

Usually means pain, just like what happened earlier,

When we both wanted to say something and swung our heads

Into each other, your eyes instantly filling with tears

Although you were brave and didn’t cry.

Outside it’s beginning to rain. His nose clings to the window.

“Is this where you get off?” he peers through the grime.

“Yes,” I say, and begin to gather my things.