Meet His Friends Night

Tonight's the night  
the "meet his friends" night  
I'm ready for this  
nervcited (nervous excited) even  
and it's gone great so far  
   
I've had a couple of drinks  
and took a taste  
of Mark's    
ginger ale & whiskey    
something something  
   
I don't think he    
noticed how strategic  
I was putting my lips on  
the same exact spot as his  
It made me smile    
with each calculated sip  
   
We were fixing to call it a night    
when the Karaoke DJ decided  
to give a shout out.  
   
"This song is dedicated to my best  
friend who passed away a few years back  
And to his fiancé that's here tonight    
This is for you"  
   
I turned to my left    
and there she was.  
Right next to me  
His song faded    
into the background  
when I realized it was her  
   
She had her head held high with  
a heavy smile. Braving  
the unexpected attention.  
   
It's hard to believe we had just  
been laughing about her wreck  
of a date earlier in the week.    
   
Her demeanor completely shifted  
as her features narrated a story    
of a land not so far away.  
Where sometimes the prince  
dies and you reluctantly move on.  
   
At that moment, to me,    
she exuded power and grace.  
It's amazing what you can  
find in a quick glance at a bar  
In a place with spilled  
drinks and abandoned ashtrays  
   
And her eyes, they had    
so many memories    
in the form of tears.  
None wanting to be spilled  
but instead hugged her eyes    
not wanting to fall  
No matter the gravity  
   
It felt like I was intruding so I    
looked away. Gifting her some  
space and privacy in a bar  
filled with curious strangers  
   
When the song was almost    
over I leaned in and asked the  
question I already knew  
   
"Was that you"  
   
She nodded yes - not  
wanting to say it out loud.  
   
I didn't care that I barely knew her  
She was trying so hard to keep  
it together I felt her courage  
needed to be acknowledged  
   
I couldn't help it.  
In I went, with my little arms  
and gave her a big hug.  
   
"I'm so sorry"  
   
She nodded her head and whispered  
thank you  
   
It was time for us to go  
so I smiled and stepped back  
Mark grabbed my hand and we  
left the bar  
   
In the parking lot he gave me  
a piggyback ride back to his truck  
I was still a little tipsy but    
still remembered to thank  
him with a kiss on his neck  
as I clung on to him.  
   
Grateful he was alive