by Lilah George
Half vintage store, quarter diner
“Quarter pounder veggie burger”
I say, remember
You said 2009, your punk internet forums
You scraped cheese off pizza
‘Making it vegan’
They kicked you off that forum not long after
“What are you majoring in?”
“Philosophy and English.”
“Can that pay rent?”
“Of course not.”
“Nana’s stopped walking stairs
Once you stop, you never do it again.”
“Never is harsh.”
“What, you think she’ll do stairs again?”
Chipped plates and multi-sized cups
Step-dad comments
Waiter seemed real autistic.
Steam blows in my face
You joke about your job
Marketing at the Pennsylvania State lottery
“What else do old people have to do?”
The waiter asks how the food was
Bun and potato chips, gone
The burger sitting
Nibbled
Vulnerable
Bare
“Good.”