Uncircled

Today your horoscope swears

that friends will mend your love life—

by inviting new people inside

your inner circle of romantic strife.

But your friends can’t fix

that part of you

that trembled, cracked, and couldn’t mix,

because—

you’re no longer in their circle.

You’re not in any shape now;

you slipped the outline,

left the living to rearrange the view.

So you won’t be introduced to anyone new.

Lucky you.

After all, meeting new people

was your least favorite thing to do.

Is your FOMO starting to kick in?

Knowing about all the events

you can’t attend?

Or worse—

knowing your bestie is letting someone

dance in,

doing all she once did with you.

Does your dead blood simmer

at the thought of her laughing with them?

Sharing secrets.

Trading stories.

Making plans you can’t RSVP to.

Worse—

she’s probably telling them

she loves them,

loudly,

the same way she told you

so often.

Will she love them more in the end?

How long before your outline fades—

forgotten, overwritten, replaced?

How long before she can’t recall

the fake smile on your face?

(Hint: probably faster than you think.)