My boyfriend called and
Said he spotted a guy while driving
Face timing a woman and watching porn at the same time
The two women mirroring each other
Pleasure and convenience merging
Something darker than sympathy rose
I pretended it didn’t bother me
Dismissed it with the stresses and victories of our humble day
Parking brake on in a vacant lot,
The sun painted my cheek with her warmth
Shielding my eyes from the harsh presence
My amazement blocking our conversation
How women can be labeled as satisfaction over being
How intention and focus can impersonate
His possible girlfriend reviewing her pain and stress
Wins and excitement,
To be overrun by another girl
Opening her mouth and accepting a man’s exchange
On the same screen
Horror overrides my imagination, replacing visions of my boyfriend
Her lips robbing my future
My insecurities ripping his integrity
Letting myself unravel into the leather driver seat
Establishing a new fear
I sigh and tell him I love him
Maybe I am just like that woman
Sitting and accepting
Sharing the silence and the mystery
If I am enough
To be both women
Photograph & Poem by Mia Amore Del Bando
Mia Amore Del Bando (she/her) is a Mexican/Filipino author, photographer, and creator. She was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Her writing and photography has been featured in over 30 literary journals including The Rising Phoenix Review, The Perch by Yale University, and the Millepiani Museum in Rome, Italy. Her poetry book Fragments of a Woman’s Brain by Nymeria Publishing is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. She is a faithful friend, difficult daughter, and selfish lover.
Backwards Trajectory 