When I saw you
across the crowded room
I forgot to breathe
but not like back in the day
when you took my breath away
with such regularity.
This time,
it was the shock
of the unexplained.

What were you doing?
I haven’t seen you around these parts
for many months.
You don’t belong here
anymore.

But upon review
I realized it was not you
but a lookalike,
some doppelgänger
disguised as the you I’d last seen
but better.

She was gorgeous
like you
but not weighed down
by years of disappointment,
or eyes made tired
by constantly judging me,
my promises and lies.
She appeared innocent
unrecognizant of our entire history.
She seemed cleaner
because of it.

Cleaner she remained
since without breath
I could find no way
to approach her
and find out
how similar you two were.
All for the better
I suppose.