cassette.

it’s been years since the last summer
nothing’s stayed the same
I’ve carried you in my hands like a camcorder-
immortalized you on tape, as I
let our memories run a million times, all the time.
I’m a hoarder-
everyone looks at me like I’ve gone insane
but I’ve never felt closer to you than I do now
you’re burnt into the back of my eyelids
and I don’t need help moving on or getting over you
I just want to stay. I want us to be eternal.
timeless.
I walk by the same places we spent our childhoods in and
I’m almost convinced you’re still here,
somewhere, everywhere,
and that’s almost enough to ease this pain
promise me you’ll come back, please
promise me that it’s just my nightmares and someday
when I open my eyes,
you’ll be right by my side, whole, alive
promise me you haven’t left me alone-
waiting, aching, empty, awake.