Change

She watched him with curiosity,
wondering when he would muster the courage
to stand up and say hello.
Just one little word,
was all she needed;
five letters, a simple –
“Hello.”
Startled,
she took a step back and froze.
Was this really happening?
Was her waiting finally over?
Before she could think,
before she could speak,
he was saying his name
and asking for hers.
What should she say?
What could she say?
Her voice had already gone.
So all that escaped her dry parchéd mouth,
was a raspy and ugly old
“Hi.”
But of course that was not, her actually name,
and her face flushed furiously red.
She wanted no more
than to run out right then;
she wanted no more
than to die.
But die she did not,
and her voice did return,
and she managed to
tell him her name.
And from that moment on
they were never the same,
for everything had changed.