did i tell you i dreamt of you last night

no

how could i

we don’t really talk

i would have though

in the dream i was back up north

a place we have never been

not together at least

i went to the bar that i always went to and remembered

falsely

you went to a bar down the street

as i walked the streets of a place i knew

i realized i now knew what i mistakenly remembered knowing and it was all a facade

it looked real

real enough to not question

but if you looked to closely the cracks began to show

it was two dimensional

scenery for a play

and had this wild west tinge that felt right in all the wrong ways

so i walked down the dusty streets in a black suit

a bowler on my head which seemed strangely fitting

did i ever tell you of the bowler i had

of course not

my last night here

home

we went to the strip club and the dancer took it off of my head

she wore it as she danced

and when she returned it to me i returned it to her as now that it had seen the stage it could never be a part of the crowd again

wonder if she still wears it

pops it on her head and sways to the music in her head as she does mundane things around the house and remembers

me either

so i walked to the bar you had never been to but i knew you frequented

and there you were

a red and black dress and stockings on your gorgeous legs, looking old timey and sophisticated in that way you have

a cigarette in one hand

champagne in the other

you ran to me and said you’d been waiting

you admired my suit and noticed a silver Star pinned to it

you always noticed the things about me i didn’t

how did i not know i was a sheriff

not a good one at least

we drank together for hours and you cried on my shoulder

then suddenly you sprang away and began drinking with a group i didn’t know in a town you’d never been too and somehow it all felt right

so i waved and left

and you came storming out after

mad that i left and ignored your texts

surprised at cellular coverage in an age of no electrictiy

i showed you no new texts and you cried and fled

against my better judgement

i didn’t chase you

you wanted me to

and we both know that is my instinct as well

but i didn’t

and i guess i wanted you to know that

if you want me from now on

i’ll be the rabbit