i.
no matter what your teachers
may tell you, your grades are not a
measure of how smart you are, that
has more to do with how you handle your
heart, and i have never seen anyone love
more fiercely or smart than you.  

ii.
i have let boys touch me just because
i was scared to lose them; don't let them
lay a hand on you without you asking
them to, you are worth more than that.

iii.
people will walk away, but you've known
that already.  keep your chin up so that when
they turn back one last time, they know that
you don't need them.
you don't need them.

iv.
i hope you find somebody that holds your
hands, even when you're nervous and
they start to sweat.  if they pull away,
you come find me and i swear,
i won't let go.

how sad that I thought
we were going to end
up together- something
you called "soulmates"
and something I called
"settling down"- but
you ripped the parts
of me that I gave you
to shreds and scattered
them in all the places
I have never visited but
always wanted to. now
every city I long for is
tainted with your name,
with my constant need
to do right by you, with
my feelings of inadequacy.
I think I probably hate you.

most days
I am overwhelmed
by the need to talk to you,
to feel your name drip from my
mouth.