Alexis Rotella

Divorced A Year

He seems the same, dressed in khaki trousers. Unemotional, almost robotic in his speech patterns. I notice the lava lamp I took to my apartment is back on his end table – or one identical to it. Same with the cranberry glass ashtray. Wherever did he find another? Ditto for the throw rug in the hallway which we bought on sale at Bed Bath and Beyond ten years ago. The exact Richard Ginori fruit bowl, our wedding present, sits on his kitchen counter. Except mine has a hairline crack. Over tomato soup and egg salad sandwiches, our favorite lunch, he asks if I’d like to move back in.

screen door
the rocket scientist
walks right through it