The Middle

iii

Everyone is fictional, you once shrugged

that man on the street dragging groceries

and that lady in blue getting on the bus

"Will they ever cross paths?"

I asked in blatant curiosity

watching the speck of blue flee a little too fast

"Well that's up to their story.

I guess we'll just have to let the writer decide."

the words rolled off your tongue

"And if they don't?"

you paused too long to crack a smile

"Then I guess it'll be someone else's story."

But I paused too long to start page one

they could have been us

and we could have been them

after all, our beginning was someone's end

so should we thank the writer for our story,

or the readers?

"How obscure."

I say instead, even if it took a minute

because I ask too many questions