they told me i would see you again.
they lied.
they told a story to a girl who loved to tell stories
a story that said you weren’t over. we weren’t done.
but we were children then, and they must have known
they must have seen
how broken my heart became when they said
no more star gazing
no more bike riding
no more walks in the woods
no more baseball caps and Land O’ Lakes hot chocolate and Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
leave your childhood behind.
i broke a lung, crying.

once upon a time, we were.
i would have invited you to lie beside me in the grass
and watch the seasons pass.
watch the stars with me.
now we’re old and the best Christmas i can hope for
is to watch a smile play on your lips
like you smiled at me when
i, shaking, leaned over to see your face

yours is the last face i saw
as we pulled out of that long driveway
and drove down that endless road
that led away from you.


January 19, 2017