I am half of you.
Right?
You are 23 of my original 46 chromosomes
Yet,
I barely know you.
But that’s a two way street.
While your second marriage is failing and my relationship is thriving
And I might be drinking a little too much and you might be earning not enough
I have late Friday nights while you are...
Wait.
I don’t know what you’re doing.
My bright blue eyes reflect nothing of your dark chocolate brown
The only thing we seem to have in common is our reputation of being
The tallest in the room.
Dad, I’m growing up.
And it’s not my height this time.
You have always been a man of few words
Well, I’m just the opposite.
I wish we could sit down and pour our hearts out
I want to understand what goes through that forty-seven year old mind of yours
I want to know what sprouted those gray hairs on your head and
How high school changed your life
I want love advice
Tell me funny stories about all the wonderful mistakes you made
As long as you don’t mention the one
Where you forgot to speak to your daughter.

With legs intertwined
We lay in peace
Silently drifting into a land of dreams
One not nearly as reputable
As the one we’re already living

I awake from my slumber
And realize it’s that time again
A slight grin starts to form
As I make my way to the mirror
Slowly removing my clothes,
I pause
My grin is fading
Today is no better than yesterday
And tomorrow holds no promises
As more skin is revealed
More voices begin to shout
A sea of self doubts
Filled with salt that only
Increases the burn
A sea that lacks the vibrant fish
That once represented confidence
A sea that never stops flooding my thoughts
My every move
My every bite
I am submerged

While others are wishing,
Crying.
Dreaming.
I am living.
I have what they lost,
Or what they never got.
And I will never, ever
Take that for granted.