Writing

My other half

my neighbor

my friend.

You will die in my

lifetime

and I will be left without you.

How does life go on

without you as a

constant companion

to support me?

You and me, hand in hand like always. From the moment I met you, I’ve felt safe and I can’t really explain why. Maybe it’s the way your whole face smiles when I round the corner, maybe it’s the way we are always laughing.

If only i had smiled differently,
worn a different skirt, a longer one,
if i had stayed quiet, let him win,
shrunk smaller, been easier to touch,
been harder to hurt, laughed when i wanted to cry,
cried when i wanted to scream.

Preamble

Technically, I’m an immigrant;  

I wasn't born here. 

Technically, I’m too young, 

just shy of a year. 

Technically, I’m inexperienced, 

barely know the rudiments. 

Kid sitting at the edge of a dock.

Legs swinging in free fall.

Wood scrapes into his hands.

He thinks that the stars can talk to him.