We Need to Talk

we used to have these
long

talks after I caught her with
her married

boyfriend, or writing a check
to her ex husband

or lying about something,
anything.

they were circular conversations
going nowhere.

full of dead ends, word salad.

we'd sit down in the livingroom
and talk.

we'll i'd talk. and she'd sit there
texting on her phone
like a fourteen year old.

i'd ask her why
she's still

seeing a married man.
i'd ask her about the visits
to the ex

husband.
i'd go through a list of lies.

my voice would go hoarse.

she'd sit there
and stare at me, or through me

with those dull blank eyes
and shrug.

and? she'd say. so what's the problem?
are we almost done here.

I have to go somewhere really really
important.