the road between us

Without even knowing each other’s names,

We met.

Our gazes matched through the shaded back window of your momma’s RAV4,

And I gave you a view of life you didn’t know possible.

From your seat, your eyes were big and brown and curious

From my seat, my eyes were big and blue and wet

You stared at me with wonder and jealousy;

ah, to be grown up

I stared at you with jealousy and awe;

oh, to be a child again

From your car seat, you watched over your twin brothers

From my driver’s seat, I watched the stoplight and hoped it wouldn’t change

I hoped to stay in this moment for as long as possible

I hoped to never leave your gaze

From your car seat in the left turn lane, you watched me change the radio

From my driver’s seat in the right turn lane, I felt your steady gaze

From the intersection ahead of me, your head careened around to catch a final glimpse of me

From my stationary location, I smiled

From over the hill, you smiled, and you felt enlightened by the presence of someone

From the other side of the mountain, I cried, for you, and for my mother.

We met gazes through the clear side front window of my Land Rover,

And you had a more profound effect on me than you know possible.