08-14-03 - 8:21 p.m.
we met in the parking lot of a mini-mart near his job site. it was just like old times; the shrinking closeness of the car, the clean smell of his blue plaid shirt. we played verbal chess, we tapdanced around our chemistry. i told him about ruined plans with the 'boy, about new plans to escape his hold on my heart. he ran a lightning swift gamut of reaction, coldly indifferent one moment, blaming me for my inability to handle my emotions, prickling over the mention of another man, then panicked, as though losing me would finish him. when he went back to work, he kissed the palm of my hand, never noting the absence of the gold ring he gave me, the one i swore i'd never remove.