on the table

i got a call
the other day
from an old
friend who shall
remain nameless,
and she asked,
so how are you
these days, and
i replied fine.
that bad, she
said. are you
going to be okay.
so how's the
weather i asked
her, and she said
i'm worried about
you. I asked, so
did you see
the game last
night. and then
i heard her
start to cry,
to sob quietly
into the phone.
i'm sorry, she
said, i'm so very
sorry. i've never
seeen you like this.
i bought some new
shoes, i told her.
brown, loafers
that go great
with jeans, stop
she whispered,
stop. but i
haven't worn
them yet, i
continued. they
are still in
the box,
on the table.