My dad was in Atlanta with his family But that’s the way it’s always been And that’s the way it will always be
My mother was at her boyfriend’s house 15 minutes away Starting her new life The one where she tries to forget about me Maybe if she keeps redecorating his house She can find a way to hide me in the corner Collecting dust and spider webs My picture on the wall hidden by a sea blue curtain
And my siblings were in his basement watching TV Probably fighting and getting ready to sleep I never knew that every time I refused dinner or a movie with them I was sealing my fate like my coffin lid
I was born on a Wednesday evening 5:15 pm at 4 pounds I entered this world early and that’s how I left it
I killed myself on a Wednesday
I left behind cabinets full of pills I always said I would take I left 19 notebooks of half written poetry A few finished paintings and pastel scribbles And a bowl of almost empty cereal left in my drawer
I left with scars on my body and burns
I left three bobby pins in my boyfriend’s window sill Locks of my hair still in the kitchen trash Lighters and pipes still hidden under my mattress
I left my bath water in the tub, turning cold as my body ***** socks crumpled in the corners of my sheets I left my favorite shirt on my floor
I left my books opened Underlined all the words I never could say aloud I kept my favorite CD in the player in my car