With Love

She wondered what life would be like if she was born at a different time
A time before him, or a time after him
What a gift it is to be alive at the same time, she thought
She would never say these words to him
For she knew they would only be received as a plea for affection
But she would say them to herself because she believed them to be true
He was no longer speaking to her, but he was surely still speaking about her
The two were no longer in love, but now just two strangers in a grocery store
Strangers in separate isles, completely unaware
That their former lover was just three rows away
Two strangers with an abundance of beautiful memories
He would continue to search for love in other men and women
She would decide to be alone
But in this moment, as one looked through bruised vegetables
And the other looked for the right brand of buttermilk bread
They both had hope that their soul mate was out there
What a gift it is to be alive at the same time, she thought
As she passed by an isle and saw a familiar face
He would die four years before her, and she would live to see his wife remarry
She would be invited to the wedding, for she would be friends with the new husband
As the ceremony would begin, she would go outside and smoke a pack of cigarettes
What a gift it is to be alive at the same time, she would think
As she looked at his soul mate, now ready to marry another
But for now, she was just grocery shopping
Because she needed to plan for her future without him
As she passed the isle that he was in, she whispered to herself
Let me be your violent smile
That's what I need