MY STOMACH JUMPED
into my chest
or my chest fell into my stomach.
Or both.
I knew him.
Buck?
I stumbled
backward.
Couldn’t be.
Couldn’t be.
Ain’t that what it say?
he said,
facing me.
Couldn’t be.
Couldn’t be.
But I thought . . .
I stuttered.
I thought . . . I thought . . .
You thought I was dead,
he said,
straight up.
Straight up.