Since we parted ways, just a handful of days ago
the garden we planted together
has sat unattended
Too symbolic to go near it
I have avoided it

When I considered the sadness of it withering away
and finally gathered my strength
I approached the plot in my backyard
The garden box you built by hand
intended as a project to bring us closer together

I messed up
and figuring that the garden knew this
I expected a sad sight
the vegetables all dried out, barely hanging on
without any water
and so much sun this past week

The sight that welcomed me
surprised me
An entire cluster of cherry tomatoes
red, ripe, ready to eat
The Brussels sprouts
barely contained by the fencing
The kale that had not yielded much as of yet
was beaming with life as well
ready to be picked and chopped
into my son's favorite salad

It just wasn't the time yet
for it to flourish
it being still early in the season