We drive in silence now
and have
for some time.
I might offer some directions
you may occasionally cough lightly
but otherwise
naught
but our breathing
our thoughts
occupy the air between us.

This transition was not quick
not obvious.
I don’t know when you noticed it
but it took me by surprise
to realize how we have mastered privacy
in this hurtling tube.

You used to sing to me
or tell me stories
about your day
or days long ago.
You used to be inspired
to share
and I used to act interested
because I was.
There might have been some quiet times
occasionally
but they were rare
or pregnant with anticipation
of the next sentence
or other ejaculations.
The space between us
has never been so extreme.

Maybe this is maturity.
Maybe this is what happens
when we know each other’s best stories.
Possibly this is expected
anticipated
understood.
I don’t know who to ask.

I’d talk to you about it
but
it is so hard
to break the silence.