not here

you don't come around here
much anymore,
do you, the woman says,
pushing a cold drink in front
of me.
you used to be a regular
here, weren't you.
in fact you used to sit over
there,
right over there in that stool
if I remember correctly.
I never forget a face,
or the drink that goes with it.
gin and tonic, right?
right, I tell her.
slice of lime.
go easy on the tonic.
where you been, my friend.
not here, I tell here.
not here.