He said, “I’ve been waiting for a hurricane”

“Something that’ll come and wash away everything”

His blue eyes matched the sky 

But then they slowly turned ashen 

Did he know what he was askin’?

He put all his possessions on the curb for the next guy

Told me he was getting ready to die

He was almost 38, looked great

Had a six-pack and pecs that were jacked

The air was humid and thick 

He said, “I can’t take anymore of it”

The cell phone on his left hip chimed

He chucked his briefcase onto the trash heap

Said, “It’s time”

The wind picked up and his eyes lit up 

Into his car he leaped

I followed

He asked if I wanted to see something neat

And I did

We headed to the beach

We sped off, windows down, like we were kids

And we stopped at Dairy Queen as the clouds rolled in

I left my phone there on the bench

He looked to the sky, said, “They’re only calling for an inch”

He parked and we sprinted to the shore

The winds swirled

The waves roared 

We weren’t overwhelmed anymore

Our toes were in the ocean

All our dreams were floatin’

As the tide rose 

It inched ever close

To where we lived 

To our work 

To our identities

He said, “The ocean isn’t worried about you or me”

We stood there till the cops made us leave 

His eyes were bright blue again like the sea

For the better we were changed

I’m glad he got his hurricane