The Bus

She gets onto the bus

and forgets about me.

Immersed in a different world

filled with friends,

and social media,

and talking about middle school things.

When she returns in the afternoon, I ask her about her day.

Fine, she says

flipping her hair back

like she always does.

Why do you want to know how my day was?

she thinks.

School is boring and I don’t want to have to relive it for your benefit.

Just fine? I ask.

She rolls her eyes.

I don’t know her anymore.

She has a whole world that I am not part of.

I only get to see her at night

when she’s busy doing homework,

or texting her friends.

But before she closes her eyes to sleep

she wraps her arms around my neck

and kisses me.

And I’m reminded of my duty to her

to be there.

For this,

and all that comes after.

***