Love Wrecked

This is a poem I wrote in memory of someone I once knew and will always love.

I met a boy at age 14. 

He became my best friend. 

Two years later he evolved into my everything. 

I didn’t see it coming. 

He was good to me. 

He loved me first. 

A leader worth following. 

He kept me safe. 

He couldn’t stand to see me cry. 

I fell in love for the first time. 

We spoke aloud our true feelings. 

It felt so good that I cried. 

The following summer on a Wednesday night like any other; 

that boy died. 

A fatal accident took his precious life. 

I called his phone over and over. 

No answer. 

I couldn’t accept he was gone forever. 

Nights were the worst after that. 

No sleep. 

I waited for his call. 

I stared at my front door hoping to God he would walk in,

with that adorable grin. 

At 3 A.M. on my couch, I realized something.

He was never coming back.

Suddenly I couldn't breathe.

Anxiety finally got the best of me.

Everything went black. 

Then I saw him. 

He was dressed in a plain white tee shirt and clean khaki pants.

He looked at me with that indescribable grin.

He didn’t say a word. 

He didn't have to. 

I knew what it meant.

I awoke. 

I had to accept our story had come to its end. 

I would be okay some day. 

At his funeral I touched his freckled hands one last time. 

They were different; cold. 

I cried. 

I shut my water-filled eyes. 

I envisioned my dream from before. 

His grin. 

He always grinned that way when I needed comforting. 

Even after he was gone, 

He sent me one last sign of comfort. 

I knew then he would always be with me. 

After all, he taught me how to love freely. 

Our story had come to a tragic end. 

But some great stories do. 

Our story was real, brutal, intoxicating, and passionate. 

One I will never forget. 

We were love-wrecked. 

A.B.  04.16.