we drank martinis in the rain

1.
I once had a romance with a boy who lived in a cardboard box.
Later he played bass in a punk rock band.
These past few years you can find him sitting on a stoop in the market, drinking a beer and watching the world go by.
(I thought just weekends but apparently it's Tuesdays now too.)

I used to dream about him…today I decided to talk to him.
If I look young for my years now, he looks old for his.
It has been almost twenty since the first time I crossed him
Green mohawk, tanned skin...skateboard riding perfection.

He remembered me, just not my name.
His eyes are still the same.
But he's quiet now.

2.
She went home to Israel. I don't know when I'll see her again.

3.
By the gas station
I saw a man flip over the handle bars of his bike.
I asked if he was okay. He said yes. I walked away.

I stopped. I checked back. He was still getting back on his feet.
I asked if he needed any help. He said no.
I walked away.

I looked back.
He was riding down the sidewalk towards me.
We stopped.
He said thank you.
He showed me the umbrella all bent up from its tango with the bike wheel.
I told him it was a spectacular fall.
He asked me my name.
He asked where I was going. He asked if home was close.
He said he'd walk with me for a bit.

He told me it was his friend's bike, that he used to ride all the time in France, but this was different, that it was new, that maybe he was going too fast…
He told me he was from Lebanon but he came here ten years ago.
He told me he was just coming back from the concert of an Algerian singer.
(there is something about Algeria that intrigues me)
He told me he took his mom. He told me she was visiting.
Then he asked me too many questions.
And I wondered if we were going too fast…

He showed me his hands.
I said he was going to hurt tomorrow.
I wanted to ask his name but it was dark.
And late.

He told me he was going to meet some friends.
We got to my street.
I told him it was time for me to go.
I walked away.

I remember wondering the other day how strangers fall in love.

I wonder if I will remember that I walked away.