I still remember
the first day I saw you
Your curls were
not yet existent
I said, "hello"
You said, "nice shoes"
I wasn't fully prepared
For someone who'd notice
shoes but I guess
You'd be the exception
2 years went by too fast
We walked the DC streets
Your hands on my back
My eyes on your eyes
We sat down on the floor
Of a library full of stories
And read love poems
Other people had written
"I promise you
I will try harder"
You read
These words were stuck in my head
You were only 22
I was barely 17
The day you told me you loved me
But try as you might
You couldn't love me sober
When you reached out
You reached beyond me
You changed my name
Into someone else's
How was I supposed to know
Love didn't always have to hurt
I haven't heard from you in a while
But some silent nights
I still listen to your voice
Even after going so long without it
I realized nothing had really changed
You still sounded like someone
Who had never truly been mine