i. I am elastic bands stretched just far enough
to stop springing back
but never far enough to break.

I am the camel with one too many straws
on my seemingly strong back.

Sometimes i am the straws.

ii. The elongated faces of my parents
weighed down by my lack of prevalence
the empty fridge door
the failing grades hidden.

I answer to their expectations
and i wonder what will happen
when they aren't the ones i need to please.

I am the promises of expansion
And the clinging to the known

I am silently imploding.

iii. I am the college acceptance letters that got lost in the mail
The 33% acceptance rate, the school that only looks at talent.
I am the lack of talent.
I am the hopefulness that i just can't see it.

I am the accepted to every school you don't want to go to
The i don't know why you still don't have a letter
Maybe we should just commit to another school...

The white girl with 2 white middle class parents
you don't need money, you're already privileged

I know i am, but sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

iv. I am your secret girlfriends toothbrush
placed in your closet.
I am finding it and wondering
when you bought me a new teal toothbrush.

The stammering explanations
The realization that the toothbrush wasn't for me.
That it had already scrubbed your saliva off her tongue.

The teal toothbrush goes flying, hurtling at your head.
I don't like the color teal anyways.

I am leaving you for myself.