Level Up

I arrive at Lucy’s apartment

at two in the morning

knock loud and long until

she groggily answers the door.

On the phone

she seemed psyched to have

her pseudo-little-sister

come crash.

I should have told her

when I was arriving

but threw all my change

into the basket for the GW Bridge

none left for a pay phone.

Lucy is wearing

her boyfriend’s shirt

down to her knees

face closed tight

against the hallway light.

“I’m here!”

I announce with a happy flourish.

She mumbles, “You sure are,”

on her way back to bed

I whisper it to myself again,

I’m here.