in place of jealousy

tells her friends that he’s not
jealous,
tells her friends she can leave him
alone,
tells her friends he won’t go astray,
tells her friends a lot of
bull---
knows the truth
that he looks a lot
(they say all men do &
so she ignores the feeling)---
knows the truth
that he’s harder to reach
on the phone when she
wants him
(they say to give him space
cause’ otherwise you’ll
smother him)---
knows the truth
he’s doing something
(and even if he isn’t it burns
at her & she can’t say nothing
because if she does she’s
jealous)---
so,
just what goes in place of
jealousy?
for it doesn’t seem that he’s the
least bit concerned
with where she is or when she is
or how she is or if she’s even
there---
but everybody says that he’s not
jealous & that’s better---
but she could evaporate just like
water boiling in a fucking pan,
still,
everybody says that he’s not
jealous &
that’s better.