wake up

every now and then, i am lying in bed 

and want to wake up so badly i could 

scream for it. surely this is not all there is. 

surely this is only a dream, a bad dream, 

and the world is kinder beyond it. 

every now and then, i pretend 

i am twelve years old again 

and waking up in my father's arms 

as he carries me from the car. look; 

the kitchen smells like sunlight and 

bread. look; my mother is kissing me 

on the head, both of us pretending 

i am still asleep. look; 

i can hear my brother laughing, 

laughing, 

laughing, 

all the way from the next room. 

yejunee

FL

17 years old

More by yejunee

  • grow up, child

    i wonder if this is the best version 

    of myself. what could have been 

    and what never will be. the things 

    meant to be and the things that

    are. was it worth it? 

    i ask the girl in the mirror. 

  • someday

    someday it'll be too 

    late. someday you'll wish 

    you had hugged them tighter. 

    you thought you would see them 

    again. you thought 

    endings didn't happen this way, 

    no warning, no reason, just 

  • Instructions on Growing Up

    If you wrap your hand around your mother's wrist 

    your fingers will touch. How 

    do you come to terms with that? How 

    do you learn that your father's shoulders 

    can no longer bear your weight, can barely