I want to remember how hard
you were crying the day I left -
it surprised me.
I'd always thought of you
as so composed with your
happy go lucky nature
tinged with some jealousy,
resentment of me.

Your shoulders shook like
a wet animal, uncomfortable
after an expected,
but dreaded, bath.

Did you feel cold?
Like things were getting colder
even as you finally slinked
out of my shadow?