The swift, bumpy ride from Chinatown
Coupled with the warm, leathery smell
Of the arm that laid a gentle weight upon my chest
And the knowing smile of the face above me
Gave me a better cause for smiling
Than I could have in two weeks
With you.

The wit and belligerent dryness
Of well- placed puns
And the laughter
That comes with innocent flirting
Changed my mind completely
As I realized
I don't want you.

There was none of the uncertainty-
The kind that steams up the back windows of your car,
Nine-thirty on a Wednesday night
There was none of the fear
That had slowly become
The very air I breathed
Around you.

And even the flickers of doubt
Now seducing me in the corners of my room
Are overpowered with the slightest grin
Left over from two hours underground
And because I love when moving fast
Can be measured in miles and not sweat
I don't need you.

So forgetting late-night lies and fumblings
Regrets of a minute and fakes of a night
I'm loving to let go of what I could have settled for
Thanks to a laugh
An embrace
A flutter
And two hours on a subway.