“Right person wrong time”
I like to make myself believe that.
I like to come up with excuses or justifications as to why we left.

It wasn’t in a snap of a finger,
or overnight.
No..
it was a painful slow burn.
A fire you didn’t know you started.

It started through small actions.
We talked less,
hung out with other people.
We lost our connection.

Then was the second phase:
The realization.
When I looked back and realized I forgot our intimate jokes,
the road that used to lead to your house,
the roughness of your laugh.

I couldn’t control it.
I mean I wanted to.
I wanted us to go back,
I wanted us to restart.
But I knew it was inevitable.

Then I tried to remember you,
I learned all your favorite songs by heart.
I remembered your birthday,
I printed our favorite pictures together.

But when I came back,
and showed you everything I did for you.
I recognized,
you weren’t that same person.
That person that knew exactly when and how to make me laugh,
my favorite color,
or favorite song.

I took a step back for good.
Because I knew that no matter how much I try to deny it,
or justify it.
You wouldn’t come back.

But I’ll still remember
the person I used to know.
And every time I pass by your street,
I’ll cherish the times I had to drive you back after a long trip.

Every time I look back at our pictures I’ll remember them,
almost as if I had gone back.

I know we haven’t talked,
but just know I love you.
In every way I can.
In every drop of my soul.
I lay myself to you
a stranger I knew.

Maybe your stay wasn’t permanent,
but the mark you left on me was.
Because the people you least expect to
can change your life irrevocably.