they all tell me to let you go
but they weren't there for the
long drives, top down,
laughing,
throw me the basketball
but not too hard because
you don't want to hurt me but
not too soft because
you want me to
feel like i'm good enough

your kind words, supportive
the only time i was ever really myself

order my meal for me, know what i want
you pay with the crumpled twenty dollar bill
i smile up at you and hand you 71 cents
because that's what the total always comes to
always came to

no more surprising me at work
no phone calls whenever
i need you
the funny parts of my day don't
get retold to you and made into inside jokes
just for you and me, no
now you have those with her