He spent them somewhere else.
So he got to watch, from four rows back,
the two gold medalists he abandoned
walk off that stage,
past him,
toward the mother who stayed—
to go get burgers,
and never think about him again.
Showing up is the whole job.
He didn’t.
I did.
And the proof wore two gold medals
and his exact face,
May you like
and chose me.
THE END
