Beside the Deutchmarks in the disemboweled modem case,
I placed a torn piece of a discarded printout
on which I had written "I love you."
Screwed the modem back up.

Through the sides of our clear plastic compumunicator,
all the components were clearly visible.
On its notepad I wrote:

_____"Gunter got a big grant from Siemens for his wireless video relocator.
He bought me a diamond ring,
and we are going to the Riviera for a few days."

Pushed the button that automatically emailed this message to ,
a mailing list that included my mother and brother as
well as several high school friends with whom I still communicated.
With warm beaches on my mind, _____I headed out the door.
I was perfectly capable of hitchhiking.

..................................................... home