that was that

she was nineteen, one year removed
from high school,

I was much older, at twenty two.
scrambling

for jobs, any job. going to
night school.
living

on a dime
in a one bedroom apartment near the race
track.

ground floor, the trash room
conveniently located
on the other side of my door.

we got married.
I wore a white suit, she and her
seven bridesmaids
wore shiny

green dresses.
it lasted six months, or less.

I remember seeing her walking
home to her mother's apartment,

in view from our bedroom window.

she had a single suitcase which
held all of her clothes,

and a blender, still in the box,
under her arm.

a wedding gift. she took the frozen
remains of the wedding
cake too.

and that was that.