You leave his apartment
without exchanging information.
He seemed so interested and interesting last night
but that was less than five hours ago
and today he’s got an early meeting
so you’re walking through the park
to reach the train
to get to your bus
to eventually reach your shower and sheets.

But maybe it’s the hangover
or the paucity of sleep
or the aches from an uncomfortable bed
or just unimpressive sex,
but every step of your trip seems
Impossibly difficult.
Your heels are no match for the park’s damp earth
and your skirt’s a bit too tight and shiny
for this hour of the morning.
It’s turning into a craptastic day.

Last night seemed so promising
but today promises to be just another frightful walk of shame
pondering the mistakes of the past.
It starts to rain
which you might have known
had you checked the weather
not that it would have mattered.
You’d still be out
now
with the same regrets.

And maybe
this is not a shame walk you’re on.
Maybe this
is just how you live these years
when you can afford to risk
and strive
and learn lessons
through scrapes and hurt.
Maybe
this is simply the journey of your life.

You hope not.
You descend to the train tracks
and head for home.