I heard about you
was told tales of your eventual fate
so long after
I exited your story.

I got information that you neglected to provide.
I had my people talk to people
who knew your people
and I got prepped on your history.

I heard you got married.
I heard you got ill.
I heard your lost family
and left the state
and that your Hawaiian shirts got as far as India
or Indiana
or Inferior Decorator School
before crapping out
laying down
setting camp
and starting over.

I heard so much
so many versions
with untold variables
including how you never forgave me
or had something to give me
or bought us parallel gravesites.

I don’t know what is true.
I don’t know what is real.
I don’t know what to believe
but I do know what I heard
and I know
I will never stop listening.