the rain pours harder
    & a woman runs in with a box over her head
the air conditioning blows harder
    & you wrap your arm around me for warmth
later, we lean against the ice cream freezers
    & wonder if we still love each other

a person shudders taking our order
    & you squeal at the ice cream’s deliciousness
a child laughs & his dad looks tired
    & i grimace when i bite into the cold
later, we lean against the ice cream freezers
    & wonder if we still love each other

a man and a woman walk into the bodega
    obviously on a first date (you say)
you walk out of the restroom
    it was too small (you say)
later, we lean against the ice cream freezers
    & wonder if we still love each other

i wonder if the couple will continue to date
    or if one will leave
i wonder if the father’s going through a divorce
    if his partner’s left him
i wonder about the employees’ loneliness
    & if they will flee

we lean against the ice cream freezers,
    yes, i still love you