How It Broke

I didn't see it go.

Just heard it—one sound,

not the sound of shattering,

just one.

When I looked: two halves on the tile,

the break between them straight enough

to use as a ruler.

I picked them up.

Held them together.

The line disappeared.

It looked like a whole dish again

except for my hands

holding it that way.

I stood there with my feet cold on the floor,

the coffee starting to burn,

the two halves fitting perfectly

in a way they never would again

once I put them down.