Forearm

Eight feet. That was the distance.

The yard, the smell of charcoal going cold,

and they were laughing at something

I hadn't heard.

She put her hand on his forearm

to steady herself into the joke.

Just steadied herself there.

The way you do.

I had a beer in my hand

that had gone warm an hour ago.

I was holding it at waist level,

not drinking,

just holding it,

because you have to do something

with your hands.

The bead of water on the can

had dried by then.

I don't know when that happened.

I don't know when a lot of things happened.