She wondered how an old boyfriend
spent New Year’s Eve,
if he was there
with his wife
being nice, or maybe mean
saying her clothes looked slutty
or how she came on
to the grocer,
making gossip
in their small northern town.
But now she knew.
It wasn’t much different
than their days long ago,
except he couldn’t breathe
or taste or smell,
his pale skin
blazed with fever,
his toes and fingers
strings of deep blue.
I got COVID
he texted.
My GD wife
Got it 2
From WHORING AROUND.
I doubt that,
she replied,
Get well soon.
And he texted back
a red-faced emoji
with devil horns
saying FUCK 2020
and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
