Sixth

Sixth 
Grade
The year I left school in March
I remember people hugged me
And I thought that was the weirdest thing
Weren't we supposed to be six feet apart?

Sixth 
Grade
I'm by myself every day
The walls of my house feel like a prison
It's too cold to go outside.

Sixth
Grade
I watched my friend cut her hair in the mirror over FaceTime 
And wondered if it would have stayed long
If we had stayed at school.

Sixth
Grade
The year I'll remember forever
Started a new school, didn't get to finish the year,
Sat around
And watched all the Pixar movies. 
Attempted to learn the splits,
Experienced a family upset.

Through all that I've been stronger than 
I would have expected
Closing my eyes
Holding my breath
Letting the current push me through
To the other side.

Sixth
Grade
I'll come through the other side of this
Wiser
Fiercer
Humbler
And I don't even want to think
About seventh.