On The Way Home

IZZI

I haven’t walked this way

Since you and I

began

I haven’t walked this street

I haven’t walked with my head down

I haven’t walked alone

I haven’t walked the long way home.

WREN

I try to guess

Which way

You’ll take home

Not knowing if I want

To see you

Not knowing which guess

To pick.

IZZI

With you

Was pride

Everyone loved you

I know our school’s mascot

Is a tiger

But really,

It was you,

To everyone else

It still is.

WREN

My hand is empty

My head is full

Everyone seems to follow

Did they always,

Did you just distract me

From the fact

That they’re always here?

IZZI

It must be a rule

To have a Maple Street,

I’m glad

It’s here

To take me

Down the dirt

Past the colors

Of new spring

Home.

WREN

The questions suffocate

And make me wonder

The answers

As I claim

I’m too tired

To say them

Was it my fault,

Or yours?

IZZI

I watch my feet

The sunburn from our kayak trip

Has faded

To a tan

That goes down past my socks

Why do I still have

The anklet you made

And how many nail polish colors

Did you compliment

Should I get rid of them now?

WREN

Finally the sea of people

Drowning me

Leaves

When I cross the covered bridge

Claiming I need to stop

At Mrs. Hanna’s

To give her bread.

IZZI

No

No

No

What are you doing

Here

You aren’t supposed to be

Here

That’s why I’m

Here.

WREN

Neither of us

Blend in

Your bright red hair

Bright blue soccer jersey

My gold hair

And six-foot-tall-ness

I wish I could hide

You want to to

Maybe we can pretend?

IZZI

I pretend

We haven’t made eye contact

I haven’t noticed you

There’s not a tiny part of me that wants to talk

I’m mad you’re here.

WREN

You’re good

At anger

If that’s a thing

I wish

You weren’t

I’m scared

Right now.

IZZI

I turn right

On Orchard Lane

Even as I know

You will too

Neighbors always used to seem like

Destiny

Now

It’s a curse

We walk on opposite sidewalks

Act like we don’t know

We’re there.

WREN

I don’t know

If suffocating fans

Or angry you

Is worse

I find an answer to who’s fault it is

It must be

Mine.

IZZI

What if this is my fault

Should I 

Apologize

I think not

I think it’s yours.

WREN

Your buttercup yellow house

Looks just like home

To me

Even next to my

Bluebird sky one

My feet are so close

To taking me to your house

Instead of my own.

IZZI

Your key takes you

Three tries

And as you open the door

You turn

Eyes locked on mine

Mouthing

Sorry.

WREN

I think you say sorry

Back

I don’t want to know

I want to be in my bed

Staring at my ceiling

Thankful for summer vacation.