I thought Valeria liked me
the way she touched her hair
leaning in when we talked
but she was in a foreign land
and I was only there
for a day or five
and I figured
if it was meant to be
she would come to me
where I was from
and I could offer her all the conveniences
of my safe American home.

It wasn’t to be, of course.
In our correspondence
she told me
that Valeria had her own life
in her own country
and was perfectly happy
with the suitors living within a thousand miles of her.
She had many people to see,
many things to do
disregarding our imaginary army of two.

I thought she’d fix me
but she just broke me
in another smaller way.
She’s with a new man now
and I am left alone.

Or so I assume;
I can’t write her anymore.
It’s been too long
and anyway, after all of that,
she’s probably changed her email.