It was a 10:54 a.m. morning breeze
as I stood waiting for the bus
harvest leaves pranced in the roads
while cars drove by
pushing the autumn sweetness

A happy image of your
best friend Josh's face came to mind,
followed by a faded remembrance
of how in love we were
last year around this time
but
the faint numbness
settling in my chest
reminded me
that those days were long gone

At 10:57
the bus slowed to a halt
the doors opened
and I remembered
I will be sixteen
this Fall.