by Swati Moheet Agrawal 

A shadow was on the page of the book I was reading. I looked up, it was him, my ex-husband. He looked unkempt – hair disheveled, face unshaven and sallow, like the boogeyman lurking in my childhood dreams. He had the tiresomeness of an old man with nothing to do in the world. Clasping the subway handrail, he stood like a desolate sea-bird, solitary, forlorn. We locked eyes for a fleeting moment: Foolhardiness is a boy’s revenge on his girl. He thinks he is not cherished, treasured, so he damages himself to deprive her altogether.

A tear slithered down his cheek. I supposed it was alright to leave him to his own devices.

I returned to the page I was reading.

About the Author:

Swati Moheet Agrawal is a poet and writer based in Mumbai, India. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Alipore Post, Rhodora Magazine, Sledgehammer Lit, Minnow Literary Magazine, Mad Swirl, Ariel Chart, Modern Literature, The Criterion, Potato Soup Journal and Muse India among others. Follow her on Twitter @MoheetSwati and Instagram @swatiwhowrites.