I just did not.

This lad turns around to look back at me
He wears a sooty shirt, folded up to sleeves
He used to be a boxer;
He first hit
Then talked.
But that evening, he just smiled at me.

He is tired.
Of caring about the “crowd”
Of sleeping solo
Of fostering his family
Of bated breathings; he is dying every day.
But that day, he just lived with me.

He loves me
He holds on to me when he loses his job
He holds me dear when he loses his friend
He says he’s sorry that night…
He reaches out for my hand, to grab him
But that night, I just did not .

Today, he disappears in the crowd;
thanking me for teaching him how to love
unrequited.

Today, he says he might not be alive tomorrow
we might not be able to see each other again.
I say “you’re hiding something”
He says, “yes”.
And that moment, he just left my hand and walked away.