ben

"i make everyone uncomfortable,"

you said

as you stood up

from the heavyweight chair

and announced why you were here with us in group.

you did not make anyone squirm,

but we couldn't say that

unless we raised our hands

and asked for permission,

so we all kept our shaking fingers

in our laps

and let silence spread

like the plague.

your chestnut brown eyes hid behind thick-framed glasses,

but they looked kinder than everyone else's-

reflected hints of hope hung in your pupils.

your words sounded like recovery

and your crooked smile looked like

you were getting there.

at snack time,

we played five rounds of uno together

and you made me laugh

for the first time

since my admission.

you cracked jokes and your knuckles

repeatedly-

so much so that

it almost felt like

we weren't in a hospital,

sitting in plastic chairs

across from each other's

inpatient bracelet.

we'd never spoken before that

and

we never spoke again.

to tell the truth,

i don't think you even knew my name.

you left early the next morning

and you did not say goodbye to me.

considering that we were both just patients passing through,

that was fine.

i guess i didn't impact your life as much as you impacted mine.