"I Hope I Can Forget"

She never went to school
To be a private investigator,
But in recent days, she might
Have sworn she was destined
For that kind of career.

Two days ago, after a quiet dinner,
She stumbled upon a set of pictures,
Evidence of her friend's indiscretions.
Undeniably, it was her best friend
And he had buried himself.

When she saw her friend,
She confronted him.
"What the hell?" she demanded.
This isn't him, she thought.
He stared blankly, taken aback.

She whispered, "I saw them."
"I saw the pictures."
"Shhh," he said. "Not now,"
"Later..." (Nothing else.)
He continued talking to the others.

It was hard for her to engage
In conversation at the table.
She knew what he had taken great care
To hide--And she knew what she knew
Could change the status of the universe.

Afterward, after maintaining
A calm and cool demeanor,
He met his friend in the parking lot.
"I'm sorry you saw those pictures,"
He said. "There's no excuse for them."

"No," she said with finality.
"There is no excuse."
She looked at her friend,
Realizing she barely knew him.
"I just hope I can forget them."

Whether she did indeed forget,
Whether their friendship
Was forever tainted or healed,
We may never know--and who can say?
Who can say what is best?

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Another poem based on a headline I saw today.