love at a gas station:
————————
that’s a lot of water, he says
I have a long drive
where are you headed? and I tell him
back to the midwest, but I’m from here so I come visit
friends and family? he asks
just friends, I say
I look at his hands
they are heavy and worn
gray hair
gray mustache
broad shoulders and a barrel chest that probably grows flowers, but knows how to throw a fist
did you go the university there?
no, to the disappointment of my parents, I laugh
were you raised religious
yes.
he slides my gallon of water across the counter and looks me in the eyes then gently says, well, call me when you get home so I know you made it back safe.
(but I forgot to get his name)