Love in the time of Swine Flu

We were sitting on a couch
and talking in a circle like we
always used to

Me near you but not so near
You know how it can be

And I made a joke

"Neither could he"
I barely got the punchline out through my own laughter
And you with me
our sides splitting
my guts spilling

You smiled at me
While we both recovered

This was one of the saddest moments I can remember
because though you laughed for me

The rest of you was his

I drove home alone, like I so often do
watching the headlights
from the other side of the freeway partition
Knowing it was not possible to cross the barrier

Red lights ahead, always the red lights