The Improbable Messages You Never Received, And I Almost Never Sent 

I woke up today and thought that

I can’t remember how we met.

You don’t?

No. Do you? 

I was drinking coffee and watching the night sky.

I saw a bunch of shooting stars and one

landed in my cup.

That’s how I met you.

I don’t remember that at all…

I had a dream today about you. 

In it you said that you love me. again.

I never told you I love you.

Not in person, but you have told me

in my dreams before.

I saw you at MoMA the other day. 

I didn’t come up to say hi. 

You looked happy. 

I was happy. Thank you for not coming to me. 

You’re welcome. 

I thought your last poem 

was nice. 

Did you read it?

I skimmed over it. 

What do you think is the 

purpose of life?

What a silly question. 

And still…?

The purpose of life is life itself.

And nothing more?

And nothing more. 

I still owe you dinner. 

Let’s meet in the next life and

you’ll get me dinner.

How will I know it’s you?

You’ll find a dog with 

sad eyes. Feed it. 

I saw your new movie

yesterday. 

Thanks, but you didn’t have to. 

I thought one of the characters 

resembled me. 

Yes. 

You never do anything.

You never ask me what I do. 

My mom was asking about you 

today.

I’ve always liked your mom.

She liked you, too. 

Still does.

Do you remember 

our first kiss?

I still have a scar from it.

Sorry

I never told you this, 

but you were my first love.

I know.

How? 

Sometimes you call me 

in the middle of the night

and tell me.

Sometimes I worry

about you.

Why? 

I don’t think you can live 

like you do 

for long. 

I don’t think

you understood me once.

??

Even now

you don’t understand.

I wish I never met you.

I do, too.

Remember when we used to dance in the rain? 

Of course, 

I had pneumonia

and spent three weeks in the hospital.

Was it worth it?

When I’m not in love with you, 

you bore me, 

and when I’m not bored, 

I hate you so much.

I thought about what you said 

and I think it’s better 

if you don’t call me anymore. 

Why?

Because I’m afraid I’ll pick up…

Why did you even go out with me?

I was never your type anyway. 

Yeah, you weren’t. 

An exception just proves a point. 

Do you still drink coffee at night?

Yes, but I make sure 

to do it inside now, 

so no shooting star

can land in my cup.