The only thing I have left is the memories.
A sunflower patch still grows in the corner of my mind,
My baby brother’s room is still painted in a bright blue with white fluffy clouds,
That tree in the backyard still gives me the sniffles when I climb up,
I still go outside to sing in private and believe I’m good,
The neighbor still encourages me while unloading the groceries from his car,
That routine surgery hasn’t unexpectedly killed him and his wife hasn’t yet moved on.
My twin siblings are still wrapped safely in my mother’s womb–
She hasn’t gone through the traumatic C-section that almost claimed her life,
And I’m still so excited for the due date.
The playground at the end of the cul de sac is still surrounded by children,
It hasn’t yet taken the life of my seventeen year old neighbor,
Who tied a noose to the steel beams in the misty, early morning hours.
My father hasn’t yet seen his lifeless body silhouetted against the red and blue lights.
My biggest problem is being afraid of the dark in my room,
My family still makes holidays feel magical.
We are still a blissfully hopeful family of four.
Apr 3
Apr 3, 2026 at 4:41 PM UTC
The only thing I have left is the memories.
A sunflower patch still grows in the corner of my mind,
My baby brother’s room is still painted in a bright blue with white fluffy clouds,
That tree in the backyard still gives me the sniffles when I climb up,
I still go outside to sing in private and believe I’m good,
The neighbor still encourages me while unloading the groceries from his car,
That routine surgery hasn’t unexpectedly killed him and his wife hasn’t yet moved on.
My twin siblings are still wrapped safely in my mother’s womb–
She hasn’t gone through the traumatic C-section that almost claimed her life,
And I’m still so excited for the due date.
The playground at the end of the cul de sac is still surrounded by children,
It hasn’t yet taken the life of my seventeen year old neighbor,
Who tied a noose to the steel beams in the misty, early morning hours.
My father hasn’t yet seen his lifeless body silhouetted against the red and blue lights.
My biggest problem is being afraid of the dark in my room,
My family still makes holidays feel magical.
We are still a blissfully hopeful family of four.
