Simon Alderwick
departure
a man & a woman
drinking coffee.
sitting close together
as if sharing a secret.
next to him, an oversized suitcase
with a haphazard handle and four wonky wheels
whereas she has only
a daybag.
his is a face exhausted of options.
hers is the face you dream & wake up to.
they drink slowly
as if they could stop time by savouring flavour,
talk in short, sudden bursts
then settle into silence.
they have so much to say
& so much they can’t.
he wants to promise—she hushes
his lips with her index finger.
their time is up.
they stand together.
he clutches her like something he can’t quit,
her head on his chest.
he inhales deeply.
she smells of home.