Missing a Best Friend 

When you miss your best friend too much,
you may find yourself set upon by a melancholy
that drives you to push their memories aside. 

Or rather, you try to,
but no matter how hard you shove them,
and press them against your walls of bone,
and squeeze them into the darkest corners,
they refuse to leave.

They stand there, stoic in their resistance.
They catch your flailing fists with gentle hands
until they sense the slightest give,
tiredness in your arms,
hesitation in your heart,
when they can pull you into them again. 

Your expectations are meaningless.
They know your truth,  
and they won’t let you leave it behind.

The long chain of conversations, outings, hugs,
belief in each other forms a cord
between you.
Your words not sharp enough to cut through;
your rage not hot enough
to burn it to ash.
Even while growing fewer and further between,
The memories stubbornly persist,
happy you’ve failed. 

March 12 – 14, 2026