Alley

Every night we hear them, conducting
their affairs in the alley behind
our house. She cries theatrically.
He shouts, angry and sad at the same
time, he slams car doors, he tells her
that he loves her in the same tone
as he tells her to shut up. In a bit
she will start to scream
profanities. He will tell her to
get in the car or I will fucking leave you here.

Usually she does, although once
we heard him peel out and then
her soft weeping, so different when
her audience was gone. I guess
she didn't know
we could hear everything.