i remember the haunted house
and the hard significantly named "dentist" chair i had to sit in
that the arm of the chair fell off on my foot
and with fake blood smeared across my mouth.
i remember being so nauseated
from the fake blood
and the flashing lights
and the screaming.
but i remember the pounding
you'd be doing on the walls
you crazy gorilla
and even if it did give me a headache
i knew that you were nearby
and between groups
i remember that you would come into our room
and i would reach out my hand to you
and occasionally you would grab
and hold my hand
even if it was only a few seconds.
and that crisp october
before the long winter
and remembering those moments
have brought tears to my eyes.