a new day

you wake up in
a strange motel
with someone
named bella. she's
sleeping beside
you and the only
reason you know her
name is by a tag
on her luggage
sitting by the
door next to a
small lap dog
who stares at you
with bulging eyes
and a tongue
dripping onto
the floor. you
pinch yourself
hoping that this
is a dream, but
it isn't as she
wakes up and calls
you honeybun.
can you go get us
some coffee,
honeybun and take
the dog for a walk?
who are you,
you say to her,
and she laughs, i'm
your wife, she
says, don't you
remember picking
me up in the rain,
hitch hiking?
the dog jumps onto
the bed and licks
your face. it weighs
maybe three pounds
at the most.
you hate small
dogs and their
small barks.
this is not a
good start to a
new day.