Crying in the Grocery Store

I only came for coffee And something quick to eat I took the same old shortcut Past the bread and frozen meat Then halfway down the cereal aisle I saw that familiar box The one you used to eat at midnight When neither one of us could stop Now my hands are shaking Under lights too bright and cold Someone asks if I need help I say, “No, I’m just looking” But I cannot let it go I am crying in the grocery store Over something I never bought before It is just a box upon a shelf But suddenly I miss the life we had ourselves I keep my head down, staring at the floor But I cannot hide from losing you anymore A cheerful voice above me Says the weekend sale begins A mother laughs beside me As she lifts her little kid And I remember Sunday mornings You complaining I slept late You would leave the bowl there waiting While you danced beside the sink I thought I had forgotten All the ordinary things But grief can hide in little places And come back without warning Over milk and magazines I am crying in the grocery store Over something I never bought before It is just a box upon a shelf But suddenly I miss the life we had ourselves I keep my head down, staring at the floor But I cannot hide from losing you anymore So I put it in my basket Though I know I hate the taste Maybe I just need to take A little piece of you away I stand there by the checkout While the cashier scans my things She asks me if I found it all I do not know what she means Because I found the nights you held me I found every slammed front door I found the home we almost made In aisle number four Maybe it was never perfect Maybe love was never clean Maybe we were only trying To become what we both needed But I would give up all my anger For one morning like before With your footsteps in the hallway And your jacket by the door The cart wheel keeps on clicking People pass and never know That the life I thought was over Is still following me home I am crying in the grocery store Over everything we were before It is just a box upon a shelf But for a moment, I can almost see you there yourself I do not care who sees me anymore Because I cannot keep pretending I do not miss you anymore So I carry out the cereal As the automatic doors close And I sit inside my car awhile Before I can drive home