Hey, you.
It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?
Forever, really.
I don’t remember what year it was.
I tore out the dedication page in the newspaper.
I missed your funeral.
But I stayed up for three nights, hoping to hear
You’d come back.
For years,
I thought you’d come back.

I wonder if you grew up next to me;
You were always in the empty seat.
You were my age then, weren’t you?
Never got to turn thirteen
I wonder if you will ever step out of the fire at night while I’m sleeping,
Instead of backing in.

I don’t remember your voice.
I barely remember your name, or the way you wore your hair.
I wonder if they buried you in purple.
I remember the song we sang for you,
The one about the butterflies…
I really hope you heard it.