Adam & Macy | ✓

three

We returned

To our original seats

After we handed

The projects in.

I sat alone now,

And I missed you,

But you didn't know.

Or did you?

You still smiled at me

When I turned around,

And walked with me

To our English class.

I don't know why.

You were weird

Like that.

You'd call me,

Little Red!

In the halls.

No one knew who

Little Red was,

But you and I did.

-

Then something terrible happened.

-

You have leukemia,

They told me.

I'm sorry.

That dreaded word.

I dropped out of school

Soon after the news

And had to stay home or

In the hospital.

I chose home, of course.

You didn't know

Where I lived,

So we didn't see

Each other.

Sometimes,

When my brothers

Were at school,

And my parents

Were working,

I would walk

To the walk down the street

In my bathrobe and pajamas

To sit on the benches

And people-watch.

Children would play,

Not noticing me,

And I could hear

Their laughter.

I could not play anymore,

Because I was broken.

-

You somehow found me.

A few weeks

After I left school.

You knocked on my door,

And my mom answered.

Hi,

You said,

I'm here to see Macy.

Is she available?

I'm a friend

Of hers.

My mother looked over to

Where I was sitting

On the couch.

Are you up for

A visitor?

She mouthed.

I shrugged.

She let you in,

Without another word,

Probably because I had never

Had a friend

At my house.

Or any friend.

You came over

And sat on the couch

Beside me.

Hello, Little Red,

You said.

Hi,

I replied.

My doctor told me

To talk more

So people would

Remember me

When I died,

Because I was going

To die soon.

A little harsh,

If you ask me.

But no one did.

You talk now,

You raised your eyebrows,

Yes, I do,

Because I was told

To talk.

I heard you're sick,

You muttered.

Do they talk

About me?

I asked you,

My eyes wide.

No, nothing like that,

I overheard the

English teacher talking.

Is it true?

I wouldn't, couldn't

Meet your eyes.

It's cancer,

I told you quietly.

You looked at my face

For the first time

Since you arrived.

I don't want you

To be sick.

You said.

I don't want me

To be sick either.

I tried to get you

To laugh, but

It didn't work.

And now, you

Won't get better.

I shook my head,

And a tear slid

Down your cheek,

Surprising me.

Were you crying

Because of the disease,

Or because of me?

I cried with you.