The Longest Ride

The Longest Ride

Given the chance to go on car rides
now, I take it—excitement lies like my face
against ac-cooled window, '80s tunes blasting
with the languid hum of summer days.

Let me take in lemon-scented air freshener
even though we are zooming past acres of
those wild lemons groves that have been

here longer than we have. Would it be
odd to visit the house in San Gabriel we
used to rent? A decade has passed, but
some things remain the same—perhaps it is
enough for me. I wish I could tell you to

stay, but I'd have to go through losing you
again. Do you remember when we used to
make crispy chicken sandwiches? I still can't
eat them without this ache gnawing at me.