Do you remember when we first met?

I remember every little detail as though it happened yesterday

We met on the park bench

And you grabbed my hand as you led me to a tree

I was so dazed I didn’t know where we were going

And you started climbing, looking down you smiled at me

Your smile was so beautiful I couldn’t help but follow in hopes I got to see it again

We spent the day holding hands in treetops

When the moon came out it hurt me to know that you’ll leave

I know what I wanted

But I knew what I’d lose

Fighting this feeling is hard

I’ve never felt this feeling before

So I assume this feeling is a lie

but at least for a little while, it was a beautiful one

So when I sit by your headstone and tell you about my day

I can’t help the tears that fall

As I wish that we could go back to holding hands in treetops

I remember the night before.

The night before you were born.

We were sent to stay with a family friend.

Me, and your 2 other older siblings.

Emily broke her right arm,

for the second time.

I remember being tucked in,

with a promise to meet you in the morning.

I remember sleeping on that couch.

I don't remember the room,

I don't remember the hospital,

I don't even remember who all was with me.

I just remember 6 year old me,

Going to meet my baby sister.

I was sat down,

and I got to hold you.

You were asleep,

you were deposited into my eager arms.

But when you were moved,

you woke up.

You started to cry.

I look up at mom,

I was very concerned.

"Mommy, does she not like me?"

I know you don't remember,

But I do.

This is for my little sister. We are 5 years apart, which makes our relationship interesting. I remember this very vividly. We get along fine.

We were thirteen, both of the same disposition

Antisocial and quiet, not much else to mention

We were the only kids at the time, so it was destined to be

We didn't talk at first, but then you walked up to me

We hit it off right away, laughing and cracking jokes quietly

Two dumb blokes

Making immature jokes

Talking Percy Jackson lore

And which PJ character we want to date more

We found out we had everything in common

Both drew, both wrote, both had no plans for college

Down-to-earth, genuine, and smart

You're awesome the way you are, and don't think you aren't

You make every year more fun than the last

Laughing together as we look back on the past

We've both grown so much--literally and figuratively

Why we've stuck together is by no means a mystery

She wasn’t coming back. It was clear that our paths lay in different directions, different cities, different dreams. I was on my own again. I re-read the message in case I had misunderstood the meaning. No. There was no other interpretation.

I laid back on the pillow and tried not to cry. Single AGAIN!!! “Oh God, why?” I shouted out. I took a deep breath to regain control of my emotions.

“So what do you want?” the voice in my head challenged me to ask for exactly what I wanted.

So I prayed...“Dear Lord, thank you for [name], but PLEASE could I have a long-term girlfriend? Honest, trustworthy, compassionate, caring, intelligent, easy-going, good sense of humour, beautiful - oh and long hair and a fringe.” I added with a smile. I know I was being greedy, but, heh,why not go all-in!

I fell asleep with a smile on my face at the idea of asking God for a girl-friend (again!) - crazy, right? I had only once prayed for a girlfriend before - just before [name] turned up at the singles night I organised, so it worked before, why not now? Last time, I had just prayed for a girlfriend - any girlfriend - no additional characteristics and ended up with [name], but I thought this time I needed to be more specific. Better to be single than end up with the ‘wrong’ person.

A week went by, still no sign of any possibilities. Then I went to my English Corner in the local coffee shop. There were a number of regulars there and I started the discussion - I cannot remember what the topic was - two women turned up a little after we had started and I looked up as they opened the door. One of them was beautiful AND had long hair, but no fringe and she said, “Is this the English Corner?” and I smiled back and said, “Yes, you’ve found us! Welcome to my English Corner. Please could you introduce yourself?”

“Hi everyone, my name is Jessica...”

do you remember

when we first met?

during quarantine

when the last thing

we were supposed

to do was touch

each other

breathe out or hug

but we did

and now we’re here

the pandemic never ending

our tie like illness

incurable

until

we kiss

Do you remember when we first met?

And everything in our lives was set?

And the pressure of life came down

Dreary rut and routine driven frown?

And even with accidents

Setting new presidents

Humor had us laughing

at pretzels of financial puzzling

Until disease reared its ugly head

And came between us instead

We learned once more to be in love

Despite the challenge, hand in glove

We pulled each other through the mud

and nipped death, with love's sweet bud

And when the battle brought broken bodies

We rocked to bohemian rhapsodies

Now that you are gone ahead

I'm alone in our marriage bed

I love once more in a different frame

adapting to life so not the same

You got my book wet and began apologizing profusely.

Although I couldn't really be angry because you were absolutely beautiful.

You were the kind of pretty that people have to take a second glance at, the best kind.

You asked if you could buy me a new copy but the book was just a paperback and it was my third time reading it, obviously not a big deal.

I said sure.

Sure led to “okay” which led to ’here’s my number”

Followed by “how bout a trip to Barnes and noble next weekend?”

Life was set.

Do you remember that trip?

It led to my greatest love

And my greatest loss.

I wish we could discuss it but you have moved on to another life.

By the way, my love, I never got rid of that book.

Strep throat.

Thats who I have to thank for my best friend.

Picture this: lil' pale blonde girl steps into the doorway of a colorful Pre-k classroom, filled with screaming kids and friends.

She doesn't pay attention as the teacher explains all that she's missed the first three days of school.

She glanced around the room, her eyes flitting from one person to the next.

A little boy yanks a toy truck off a shelf, shouting at his friends.

Another child makes little noises at the class guinea pig, his friend next to him laughing, doing the Same.

A girl bossily instructs another on the proper way to swaddle a babydoll.

A little boy with blonde hair chases a girl around the classroom, both giggling uncontrollably.

Her eyes finally settle on one girl in particular. She's sitting alone at a table, a mound of play-dog shaped like a bunny rabbit in her hands, her curly auburn hair hanging in her face, her hazel eyes trained attentively on her creation.

The little girl who has missed many friendships formed has found maybe the last child without a friend. She has heard from her brothers many times about the dangers of not finding a friend by the first week. She confidently strutted over to the lonely girl, hunched over the table. She plops herself down and with the tone of the confidence of a thousand queens, she states, "I'm Alli. Are we best friends now?"

My body was sore. I had never been so tired in my entire life.

I felt a rush of emotions wash over my body as I laid my eyes on you for the first time. Happiness, joy, disbelief.

Tears began streaming down my face and I couldn't find words to leave my mouth as the doctors handed you to me.

I held your small, fragile, crying body against my chest as tight as I could.

I instantly knew what the definition of "love" was.

Never in my life did I believe in love at first sight, not until I first saw you. You were more than perfect, more than anything I ever could have dreamed of in my wildest dreams.

In that moment, 11:34 am, not one other thing in the world mattered to me besides you.

You waded in the early dawn,

looking frightened,

and somehow sad.

well, all beautiful things seem sad,

in some way, tragic.

you stretched your delicate fingers,

and smoothed your long hair.

down the fingers went,

running like a comb through your hair,

as the waters rippled calmly,

my heart was racing,

never have my eyes beheld,

such a wonder,

your shoulders,

that waist.

oh, to be a smooth pebble,

carressing your toes,

oh, to but brush away the grey sand,

upon your feet.

the reverie was broken,

as the dawn red turned to yellow,

as the full light came out, from the waters,

and the sun rose,

and you, turning into a Honda Civic,

feet to wheels, hair to windsheild.

you drove off, Honda Civic,

and left me mesmerised.

why such midrange?

of all such automobiles,

why such a so-so thing?

you will not tell me.

i returned to the lake side,

many times hence,

seen many cursed or willful damsles,

turn to something else,

swans, weeping willows,

a vespa or two,

but never you.

never again.