Oh she was lovely enough,
this casual pianist.
but I knew this routine by heart.

She was supposed to be a fling
an overture, nothing more
We would share some moonlight
and part soon after,
Any connection evaporating quickly as morning dew
a duet dissolved into solo

But the first voice I heard in the morning was not my own:

Please stay

and I find myself following,
not leading

"Have I learned my lesson?" (someone asked later)

Not yet, said I.

Not yet