Almost

He reached

in his pocket

and pulled out

the ring

glittering and

new

The waitress

smiled

filled his coffee cup

Is that for me?

her shiny red lipstick

teased

He smiled

but his eyes didn't

It's not for

anyone

I just like the idea

he said

He drank the coffee

black and bitter

and cold

like the arms of

winter dark

that scraped against

the glass windows

left all the money

in his wallet

for a tip

She came out

to gather his dishes

and when

she blinked

a pretty white star

blinked back

from the bottom

of a coffee cup