You were so beautiful, Karina,
so kind and so smart.
I don’t know what I did
to deserve you
but I learned pretty quickly
how I did not.
Christ, the way I acted…
it’s a wonder we lasted as long as we did.

I should have gone to see you that weekend,
I know that now.
Things would have ended very differently
or very possibly
not at all.

Thank you for what you gave me
however unintentionally.
It is something I continue to treasure.
The pains remind me
that someone once cared.