I saw your locker today
As I walked to math class
I wanted to say so much
But the frog in my throat
Refused to budge
The inside, now bare
Used to be filled with pictures of us
It’s funny
Because I never knew the color inside
Matched the color of the front
I turned away
As you turned around
Afraid to let you see me stare
After erasing all memory of us
I’m sure my presence
Was the last thing you’d want
I never cared for pictures before I met you
But you always did
Wanting to catch every moment
And seeing yours gone
Made me sad but happy
That I never took any of my own
I kept my eyes to the ground
Holding back tears as I walked
Remembering the comfort of friends
Alas who efforts failed
As I could never escape you
Not even in thought
I looked back to see you
Of course you were not there
Because for you
Life resumed as it should
While mine stayed stagnant
And could never return to normal
As I approached the door
The cool sensation of a tear ran
I closed my eyes
As the air burned
Hoping to seal them away
Inevitably walking past the door
It was as usual
Trying to cease them
I’d never succeed
In a world after you
Very good to keep pace with me
Dropping with every footstep
I trudged down the hall
To the stairs
I stopped and held on
No longer willing to move
I plopped down
To wallow in my misfortune
The memories flooded
As they tended to do
Since you left everything with me
So much noise inside
They shook, rattled away
I could never have a moment of silence
Heavy did it hang
On my shoulders
The weight of what we lost
Until a tap on the shoulder
A seat next to me later
You appeared with a sad smile
The frog dared not budge
Too tight with tears
No more room to breathe
You looked guilty
Knowing in times like these
We’re never meant to be by ourselves
Held in your hand
You scratched out
Our names on the white binder
Usually took with you to math
That you had opened just enough
Revealing one single picture left
The one I know was your favorite of us.
Moe