Love Is a Puzzle To Her

Love is a puzzle to her, armed to perplex. She does not understand it, Is confounded, Although surrounded By others who seem to all be in love. She walks quickly past, Trying to ignore the Handholding and the kisses, Not in public she mutters to herself, But deep inside, not aloud, Not wanting any attention. Afraid of being noticed. “Hey!” someone yells. She puts her head down And keeps running. Does not stop until she gets Safely inside the library. “That guy was trying to get your attention,” The security guard tells her. She ignores him too. Angry that she is terrified of love. And of conversation. She does not make eye contact. So he gently places the notebook she had dropped next to her on the table. “Thanks,” she says Without looking up. Without noticing his kind blue eyes. Without seeing that he would have been interested. If she had looked up even one time Or if she had smiled Or if she had done Anything Human At All….