Free Write Friday

that one summer abroad

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so many hours planned ahead
with no idea what would happen except rain
thinking you might die before summer came

the crazy drugged up air plane flight
where the delay makes you start to freak
since you’d taken the Ambien and needed to sleep

arriving in London, riding the “Mind the Gap”
surprised by small streets and free museums
going on historical walks, certainly a sore bum

being amazed by the West End performances
eating gelato in Trafalgar Square, watching fountains
then finally going to Cambridge by train

studying literature among the world’s best
falling in love with the greenery, the people and the sweets
not to mention the small winding shops and streets

seeing Shakespeare and castles galore
amidst reading British classics in Newnham garden
the pubs and clubs calling your name now and then

the premiere of Harry potter with pals from home
nights in Selwyn garden with wine and Indian
even punting on the river with friends

snapping pictures every chance you had
making friendships that would hopefully last
those five weeks went by far too fast

even the unexpected study abroad romance
you met someone but he felt like a bud
until a dart dropped on your foot and he fixed you up

the lingering moments beneath Selwyn’s door
a kiss in the rain then nights with little sleep
writing those final essays in the time you could squeeze

then saying goodbye and heading to Eire
drinking and dancing at Gogarty’s in Temple Bar
buying a Claddagh ring in Galway Bay, seeing Newgrange and Moher

making friends with Irish musicians
a pub crawl with Kopparberg, singing a tune
hit the Guinness Factory where you went to ruin

watching The Tudors film at Christ’s church
kissing new boys and Blarney for the gift of the gab
be it true… never a moment was dull or drab

flying home has never been so painful
feeling every so spoiled for all the memories made
the one summer forever in your brain engraved

Make it Stop

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Prompt - Give this photo a story.

I pull out the puzzle.
Stop.
Dumping the many pieces to the ground.
Not right
I want to make something pretty.
Stop.
Even if just for once.
Not right.

One piece is ruined from being soggy.
Not right.
The people in the picture stare at me.
Stop.
I think a piece is missing.
Not right.
The picture is incomplete.
Stop.

It’s not real.
Not right.
Fingering my perfect puzzle socks.
Stop.
This puzzle isn’t perfect.
Not right.
And it should be.
Stop.

My hand smashes the horrible image.
Not right.
Before I realize, I stand.
Stop.
Clutching my hands up tight.
Not right.
And stomping away the images.
Stop.
The faces that haunt me every day.
Not right.
I wish the voices would stop ruining everything.
Stop.
I’m not right.

c is for comfort

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she made me find myself.
she cracked me out of my shell
so i could experience things better.

she never fails to listen,
never fails to make me laugh
and never fails to share with me.

she always makes me comfortable.
she can trust that i’m always there.
she is one of the best things to me.

she’s the one i’ll never let go of

One Thing I Know

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Free Write Friday Prompt~
You wake to find yourself in a strange house and you cannot remember your own name. You roll over and see a letter by the bed. Is it for you? Who is it from? What does it say? Does it explain where you are and why?

Rolling over, I breathe in deeply. I’m comfortable but I can’t think of what on earth I’m doing here. Why I’m laying in this somewhat chilly room that is void of any sort of decoration. The only thing I notice is an envelope. I cautiously test out my fingers’ strength as I pick it up, flip open the flap and pull out a sheet of paper. This is what it says.

You are free now. You may not remember anything but you’ll be that much better for it. You won’t have to worry about me. You won’t have to feel that pain anymore. The doctors took care of that. Unfortunately, I can’t handle the pain anymore. That’s why you are free. Free to live a new life. Not many people get second chances, but you do. You will look different. That was part of the deal. Memory wiped and different appearance. Now they won’t find you and neither will I. It’s better this way. I can’t risk you being found. Farewell, my love. Perhaps we’ll meet in another life.
<

A tear has leaked out of my eye so I wipe it away, unsure of what I should be thinking. I know that sideways V is incomplete, that there should be a 3 next to it. I may not know my name, who wrote this or why anyone would be looking for me in the first place… this one thing I do know.

Somewhere by someone, I’m loved.

No One Waiting

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Here’s your cut.
See you in Mexico.

Dust had gathered
on top of this box
for so many years.
How long had
all this money
been waiting here?

My fingers slip
over the stack…
hundreds upon hundreds.
It had been a running
joke among family
that dad swindled the feds.

My father, did he
have an accomplice–
someone he left this for?
I’m the only one
left who’s around
so my heart turns sore.

They hunted us down
one by every single one
but I’m the one to survive.
This house – not a home –
holds many secrets
even after they died.

I returned only
to find the will
and yet here’s a note
with this money,
unused and forgotten,
because this is what I know…

There’s no one waiting in Mexico.