After all this time
I thought I'd made peace
with the fact that, no,
you don't love me
like you're supposed to.

After all this time
I thought I'd made peace
with the fact that, no,
you don't need me
as much as I need you.

After all this time
I thought I'd made peace
with the fact that, no,
there's nothing I can do
to fix what you have done.

But in the dark hours of the night,
when you're fast asleep right next to me
the memories resurface, fresh and clear,
and I can do nothing
but try in mournful silence

to make peace again,
peace that won't be kept.

☾

This poem has been published in the di-verse-city Youth Anthology of the 27th Annual Austin International Poetry Festival!