at least the end was good
I stick my landing and
earn a 9.4 which hardly
makes up for the dismal failures
in the middle of the meet
and I can tell my coach
agrees with me when he catches my eye
and motions for me to come see him
and tells me we will talk on Monday

and I just wish he would get it over with now
because it’s mean to make me wait and wonder until Monday
like I am being punished

I give my dad a hug
and though he has to hurry back
he came
which is nice

I go to find Ben who hands
me a bouquet of roses
red ones
and I wonder if
he knows what that means
or it was just a simple
coincidence

he hugs me and lies to me
telling me how great I was
and how it’s not the falls in between
that count but how I started and ended
he’s sweet if not delusional
but I accept his offer for dinner
all the same