Before the Dawn

I was lonely—without happy.

We had met before,

 many times,

Spoke like strangers Until that day

We stood alone in the corridor,

Eyes locked for

more than fourteen seconds.

What nonsense, right?

 Returning home the usual way,

We found the same seat again—

That’s where we started

 Talking like acquaintances.

 “How are you?”

“I’m good.”

“Coffee?”

 “LOL—on a summer day?

Juice sounds better.”

“With pleasure.”

 We walked to the sugarcane juice stand.

He paid.

I smiled, “Thank you.”

 “What about an evening walk?”

“Sure, I’d like that.”

 We met at five, by the shop.

We walked beside the highway,

 Step by step,

Through silence and sunlight.

 Was it the start of something?

Yes—

It was the beginning of a dawn.

 The alarm rings.

 Get up.

 Go to school.