Read at 3:03

Delivered, 2:57
Six minutes later—
Read at 3:03

Bare feet cold on the kitchen floor
Phone in my palm, back against the drawer
I wrote, "I love you, but I can't live paused
If you want me, answer without because"
No paragraph after, no joke to retreat
Just four honest lines and the hum under me
Delivered sat gray like a door left wide
I watched one small word turn blue on its side

The elevator moved next door
A cab washed light across the wall
Your answer made no sound at all

Read at 3:03, blue light on the sheet
Two blue words where yours should be
You saw every letter, chose to let it be
Read at 3:03—your nothing answered me

(Read at 3:03)
(Your nothing answered me)

Your circle showed you active
Watching someone's story spin
Twelve seconds of a party
You were never even in
I typed "did you mean to leave it"
Watched the cursor blink and stall
Deleted every letter
The draft explained it all

The refrigerator hummed its one low note
I let the silence clear its throat

Read at 3:03, blue light on the sheet
Two blue words where yours should be
You saw every letter, chose to let it be
Read at 3:03—your nothing answered me

I used to fill your quiet
With reasons you were kind
For once, your nothing closed the door
For once, I didn't mind

Read at 3:03 (3:03)
Blue light on the sheet (on the sheet)
You saw every letter, chose to let it be
Read at 3:03—your nothing answered me

I deleted the draft
I kept the receipt
Read at 3:03