we borrow each other’s company
like loose change in a stranger’s pocket
nothing owned
nothing owed
just passing through the hours
like bad habits we don’t bother quitting
the radio plays
something tired
something too much like us
the barman got that dead-eyed look
he’s seen this “friendship" before
a joke for a nod
a nod for a sip
a sip for another hour
we don’t want to face alone
the drinks go down easy
the words follow slower
we pretend to care
pretend to listen
pretend this stolen time means anything
more than a cast on the silence
but when the last round is called
and the bell is rung
we’ll go our separate ways
carrying nothing but the echoes
and tomorrow
maybe we’ll do it again
because it’s easier
than watching
the bottom of a glass
stare back