Echoes of You

Fudge stripe cookies and Snickers coffee creamer

S'mores pop tarts, the Sparkle parking lot

Taco Bell runs and Belmont Avenue

the package that came today with the mask you picked out

I'm boxing up that backpack, the button, the things we bought at Plato's

the love song playlist turned heartbreak

with every song you showed me

and the one I sang that made you cry

the photos moved to hidden folders, archived,

but not deleted because it happened and it was happiness and

I Like(d) Me Better (by Lauv)

TikTok - sometimes - you know, I made one about you

I have followers now? told a story you said to tell

I liked the way you smiled, so much your little sister knew you were happy

how you took pictures and showed me your favorite coffee shops -

the ones you never took anyone else to,

and I hope you'll miss me there the way I miss you now

as much as I want to tell you about the new puppy

and the call with school

and my parents' pending divorce

and how much I think about that day a few weeks ago

when you crossed an item off your bucket list

'feel at home'