0.7 miles of sidewalk
Seven blocks
Of October’s autumn leaves
Of November’s frost
Of December’s ice and snow
Twenty pounds on my back
Twenty-four inches between us
Of October’s silence
Of November’s words, though few
Of December’s tension
Two months later
Ten and then five and then two
Words exchanged
0.7 miles of sidewalk
Plus another 0.8 miles until I reach home
Eight blocks more
Of imagining you beside me
Of replaying your voice in my mind
Of pretending there’s another set of footsteps beside mine