The day you went away
was the day my world stopped turning.
We both always knew this would be temporary but Three Hundred and Twenty Seven days of you was never going to be enough.

The flowers here wilted
and shrivelled away when you left.
They only ever blossomed for you.

The grass dried up
and the leaves fell down.
Dusty tracks now where once lay roads.

The birds flew South
but not just for the winter.
To be with you.

This place,
our place,
the town that brought us together
is tainted now.
It can offer me no more.

Come home.

I believe in the accuracy of horoscopes
I like listening to classic folk tunes
And getting lost in the dark
I like my car to smell nice
It almost always smells either like cherries or cotton candy
I like doing things by myself
It's sort of difficult for me to be in relationships
I don't think I've ever had a genuine friendship
At least not one where I could break down and cry
And truly open up myself with
I'm 22 and I'm still confused, stuck
Terrified about what I'm doing with my life
Career wise, heart wise, soul wise
And overall personal wise
I'm not as stylish as I used to be, sometimes I don't mind it
Sometimes I don't care at all, but most times I'm self-conscious
But I'm quite accepting of my insecurities
I'm still learing how to become one with myself
I'm still learning how to love myself unconditionally
I don't know what I'm getting to
But I'm getting there
And it will be for the better
I will live a satisfying life
I'll be happy
I'll be sad
I'll be in love
I'll be overwhelmed
I'll be many things, many times
I will make it

I wanted promise houses built of hay.
I knew those chocolate hearts were poisoned but I ate them just the same.

I thank you. Your absence breaks my character. I can now rebuild.
Your silence fills my heart with questions and the only answer that seems to quiet it down is: love (as cliche as that may sound.)
I've remembered that love is best when it is mirrored;  now, the only one I'm smiling into is the one inside my bathroom.

I opened the door to my shriveled home
and in pranced radiant Love in a drunken frenzy,
ranting about heart-to-hearts and self-hugs.
I grunted in accordance and she laughed me away.
Her eyes beckoning, arm extended, wine in hand, she sang,
"You had me standing out in the rain for way too long.
Drink this while I build the fire  
and remind you that in here is where I've always belonged."

You're only 18 into the dream and already rushing to anchor yourself because you saw someone upstream do the same.
The old man fishing at the mouth of the river laughs a caring laugh.
He whispers pigeons into the wind for you.
"Enjoy the rocking of the boat alone for some time, my friend.
When it is time to share your vessel: Sift, Choose, Enjoy, and Repeat; savor the liberties that youth allows.
The other half you should really be looking for is the answer to your favorite question."