you said it was too late for me to go home. and that i should rather stay.
deliberately, i became ambiguous. for i was suddenly afraid. of what, i couldn't tell.
i just told you i needed to go. you asked me to do what? i paltered and said i needed to do, to finish something, something right now.
sulking, you snatched your spring jacket from the closet and walked me out of your apartment towards the elevator. as the cage opened, i leaned towards you, hoping you'd kiss me goodbye. but you went in the lift instead.
as our car ratcheted down, i put my arm around you, aware of the closed circuit camera blinking at us. i think i felt you leaned your head against my shoulder just before the lift belched us out into the well lighted lobby.
how's it goin' jose, you called out to your doorman. and he smiled at us, not concealing his knowledge of us still giddy. he answered alright, as if to say you still look naked in your clothes.
an empty cab passed by and you didn't hail it. another one came then another one. and finally, one screeched in front us. and i had to get into it.
i told the turbaned driver to the bronx please. he said that's a long way from manhattan my friend. is that a problem, i asked him back.
he said no. and throughout the ride home, i was praying my driver was right.