So, not to be contentious,
but I’m not entirely clear
on who you’ve thought you’d been talking to
all this time lately,
but more and more
I’m less and less secure
that it’s really been me.

I suspect that you’ve unwittingly
been communicating with a simulacrum
– which is a word I had to look up.
I mean, I’ve seen it in print a whole bunch
but the actual meaning
and pronunciation, that required research.

Anyway, the simulacrum that you talk to
would probably know that word
and so many others.
He’s smart.
He’s clever and moral
and apparently good at cards
and understood whatever references you were making last night to, what? The Burger Court?
How am I supposed to know about that?
My name?
Oh.

Look: I think you have imagined a me
that is only a little like the me
that is actually me, y’get me?
The person you’re talking to
is much more in your head
than he is in mine
and I’m not saying I wouldn’t like to be him
but I’m not.
I’m just not.

I’m not sure what else to tell you
but you’re expecting more
or different
than what makes sense
like, don’t ask for pierogim
from the chinese place
you know?

Oh. Well what is the plural of pierogi, then?
I’ll bet the simulacrum would know.