Dustin

I used to give him
rides home
after
tech support training

he was a nice guy,
overly ambitious
and a model employee.

I hated him.

he was

too happy
too free
too funny
too in love ...

and he had a girl he was totally in love
with
who was
very very
attractive.

He was 24 years old
growing bald
and had
finally
had his first
girlfriend.

lucky son of a bitch,
but
he deserved her.

one evening I was giving
him a ride home,
when
a shadowy figure approached.

it was his girlfriend.

short hair,
blonde
great legs
fake smile.
stupid.

just how I liked them.

she kissed
him.

I felt embarrassed,
but it
too
readily
reminded me
of what I
used to have.

somehow
I didn't have regrets.

I liked him even less.

Then one day I was
eating
in the cafeteria
alone,
as I prefer it.

when he sat right in front of me
with all his
joyous
vindication
and
said,

"You know, Jenna has been
acting kind of
strange
lately".

"She's been packing me really
nice lunches,
and buying me
all sorts of shit
I don't even need".

"Oh yea?"

"I don't know what to do,
why she's acting like this."

"Is she fucking any
differently?" I said,

"Ivan, that
is none
of your business!"

he looked defeated.
I smiled.

"Is that all you care
about?
Is
fucking?
It's not supposed
to be like that."

I didn't reply.

I would
if I was him.

but I was better
at it.

I would take her,
and fuck her
in between
until I split her in two.

It would be
rape.
murder.
and
a hell
of a good poem.

after a long
pause,

he seemed to
be playing
with a peach.
spinning it around
like a globe.

it reminded me
of
Shakespeare.
(I hate Shakespeare)

the peach
almost resembled
his
delicate
face.
decaying
too friendly
fuzz.

in a puzzled
glare,

he hestitated
before
he finally took a bite
of the
diseased
portion
and said,

"why do you
have to be so bitter
all the time"?

he spun the globe.

"what's wrong
with you?"

"nothing at all,
Dustin.
I'm fine."

I stood up to walk away.

"Okay then,
I hope
everything
is ok."

"You too,
Dustin."

I clocked in.

Sadly,
I didn't have
the heart
to tell him that
she was fucking
somebody else.