She Stayed

Two-seventeen and the room went thin Last call laugh,

let the night cave in Coats got grabbed,

all the rides rolled out Bass still shaking with nobody around Cups

on the counter, lights down low I said,

“You need a ride?” She said,

“I don't know” Shoes came off,

hit the floor by mine Took my sweatshirt like she'd done it

all the time

Thought she'd bounce, thought she'd go Phone in her hand,

Uber ready to roll She looked at the speaker,

looked at me

Then stole my hoodie like—

Put another song on.

She stayed, she stayed Everybody left but she stayed

One more song

Two-fifteen turned to three-oh-eight

She stayed, she stayed No big speech,

no game to play

Shoes by the door,

my sweatshirt gone I said put another song on

Beat got mean, then the sax jumped in She knew that part,

started singing again Wrong damn words but the rhythm was right Laughing

too loud in the dead of night Xylophone running,

violin chased Trumpet cut through and she made that face I reached

for the volume—she slapped my hand

Louder.

Okay,

damn.

Three-oh-nine, nowhere to be Whole damn room but it's just us three

Me, her,

bass knocking walls And that song—

Again.

She stayed, she stayed Everybody left but she stayed

One more song

Three-oh-nine turned to four-oh-eight

She stayed, she stayed No big speech,

no game to play

Shoes by the door,

my sweatshirt gone

Put another song on

You leaving?

Maybe.

You tired? Maybe.

One more?

Definitely.

She stayed, she stayed

Sun damn near on the way

One more song

Four-oh-eight became yesterday She stayed,

she stayed Whole night disappeared that way

Shoes still there, my sweatshirt gone— Put another fucking song on.