The Last Time

Marie Howe

The last time we had dinner together in a restaurant

with white tablecloths, he leaned forward

and took my two hands in his hands and said,

I’m going to die soon. I want you to know that.

And I said, I think I do know.

And he said, What surprises me is that you don’t.

And I said, I do. And he said, What?

And I said, Know that you’re going to die.

And he said, No, I mean know that you are.