Today I had a realization
Something I had never done
Until you came into my life
I remember clear as day
Asking for a piece of gum
"Don't take the outside pieces!"
I never understood your logic
but followed this absurd rule of yours

Today I was taking a piece of gum
out of the pack and there were only
a few pieces left in the box
all the remaining strips
were on the outside

So even though I don't see you
talk to you, think about you, or
even love you anymore
I realized that our time together
has inherently imprinted on me
And though you are
no longer a part of my life
I still carry these small pieces
of you with me  

At first this upset me
Since I don't really want
anything to do with you
but the more i thought about it
the more I realized
that you are not the only one
And the more okay I am
carrying pieces of people
who have helped mold me
into the woman that I am
and the woman that I love.