The Coldest Night of the Year

I stare at him from across

the germ-infested McDonald's table.

He smiles at me and I suddenly feel

a burning sensation on my left leg

where he accidentally spilled the coffee.

I pretend it was an accident.

I walk outside to catch the train

but I can feel his footsteps behind me.

There is no train running this late so

I lay on the bench in the pouring rain.

I used to love the feeling of rain on my skin,

but tonight is the coldest night of the year.

He uses my chest as a pillow to sleep.

I stay awake all night shivering.

The rain stops in the morning and I feel

the grey in my face and red in my eyes.

He smiles at me and suddenly I feel

his fist send a shooting pain to my chest.

I'm in a ball on the cold concrete

and all I hear is,

"You know I love you, right?"

Last night was the coldest night of the year.