impression/expression

when he walks through the door he says
I had to come tonight

I didn’t want to wait
he says, arms hesitating in mid air, until tomorrow

as he steps toward me the air stretches
the lamplight streaks the general greens he brings with autumn’s golds

wait, I have choked out, wait, I have reflexively coughed out, wait
but it’s too late, he stretches out a hand

and there it breaks apart
like colored glass raining down a well