Aftermath

The moment I step into my bedroom,

I’m attacked by grief

waiting for me in the dark.

It jumps on my back,

flings me violently across my bed,

presses my face into my pillow,

and pulls out all my stuffing like a dog.

I didn’t realize how much I loved

knowing Jonathan was mine.

I want to take back the breakup. How could I be

so stupid and impulsive? I’ve ruined

everything. And it takes far too many days

of sitting in history class with my toes stretched

way, way back to realize

that footsie moment of clarity

must have been a misunderstanding. Or maybe a

Bloopers & Practical Jokes-style prank.

Love is not waiting for me

around every corner

the way Jonathan made it seem it would be.

He set me up to trust and have faith,

to see myself as deserving of love,

and that was his one

true cruelty.