never the same

I couldn't believe it was said, really, or that it even needed to be said at all. Sad clowns, balloon in the rain. I tried my best to look both ways, cross the street with arms wide open, sweaty palms pointing to God. He said, No way Jose, and then let the traffic flow over me like so many drops of rain. Balloons, clowns, God, nouns -- I've said them all so many different ways.

She didn't understand. "I want you to love me, always, like you used to, always," and I said love is a river -- you can go back to where you came from, but it is never the same.