I am the panic you feel when you have to figure out how to eat dinner in the dining hall alone without anyone noticing

I am the anxiety that eats at you that nobody is going to want to sit next to you at dinner

I am the odd number in a world of evens

I am the friend who talks about their birthday a week before it happens just to make sure somebody remembers

I am the person who has to pull u...

The wind blows my hair. I’m standing on the edge again. But this time I don’t feel afraid. This time, there’s no one to stop me. This time, I’ll be no one’s problem any longer. The first time this happened, they took me to a facility. But that is because I failed to do it. My heart wasn’t in it. I know I will do it this time. I’ve written my farewells. They will understand in the long run, their l...

We promised to be friends forever. That’s what we always promised first and foremost. Through high school and now, through college too.

But sometimes it’s difficult to keep your promises

How do just friends keep that promise after a kiss

after many nights shared trading secrets under the covers

Most friends don’t know what other friends look like sleeping

Don’t know what side of the bed they ...

poetry, my teacher said

as his hand flew across the chalkboard

spelling out the word he had just said

poetry, he repeated, and then

rather pointedly,

he drew a white line under the word in chalk

poetry.

what is it, class?

I’m too shy to speak up

In class but I’ll take a stab at what it is

Poetry is an art form,

an expression of identity and love,

grief or loss or play

It is meaning and ...

“It was meant for you. I only ever wanted it to be for you,” he looks at me with those big forgive-me-please eyes. Those big blue eyes I could still get lost in forever.

“I can’t accept it, Lyle. I can’t.” No matter how badly I want to yank the journal from his hands, look at every page one by one and then tear it up, I can’t. I never can. That would only break me and I’ve just begun to heal.

...

four seats

if you listen closely you can still hear the giggles of children

echoing even though there’s nobody here anymore

and the swings move on their own with no legs pumping back and forth and no parents pushing them fondly from behind

as each swing pulls forward it shrieks a great cry

you can see faint spiderwebs in between the chains of the swings and

as they move you can hear the old woo...

when I first met him I was taken instantly.

his easy smile, soft eyes, messy hair

his big dreams and contagious laugh

and somehow

along the way

he too became taken with me

it’s an odd thing then, I suppose

he taught me so much

he opened me up to new worlds and

showed me a love like none I’d ever known

it’s a funny thing really

how time pushes ever on

how people are forced apart and gr...

One morning on October the 3rd

They found Suzy Lee in her bedroom

Cold and seemingly dead

Who could kill Suzy Lee they cried?

Little did they know

With a slender frame and long blonde hair

And skin clear, smooth, and fair

Eyes blue, crystal, and clear

A reflection any girl would wish for in a mirror

With a kind-hearted smile

And fabulous, impeccable style

She was compassionate and ful...

Step into my closet!

C’mon have a good luck around!

people say eyes are the window to the soul

but that’s not what I have found

in here you’ll find my collection of jeans

most of them are the same

they’re similar for the most part

but are different brands and names

in here are all my winter sweaters

shoved and forced into the shelves

they’re well worn— that’s for sure

an old shell of th...

I’ve loved you time and time again

I lifted you up and supported you like no other friend

You’ve whispered to me all your secrets

The ones you dare not share

Your darkest desires, insecurities, and fears

You’ve laid them all out there

I trusted you

I cared

I loved you

We faired well

Us two

But I can’t keep doing this anymore

You’ve made a mess

You’ve scattered pieces of me across t...