Article by Anonymous Art by Liz White

K–

There is no in-between with you, gentle nudges serve as reminders of your presence, ones that turn rowdy in parking lots and near bushes, grumpy faces that soften at the starts of sentences, an invitation to keep going, timers that beg relentlessly for our silence, delayed truths, a string of mumbles, whacks anytime the sleeves of our sweatshirts are too long, indie music laying in dead grass, Expo markers that terrorize me, and your big-ass water bottle, swinging, a certified weapon, take care of the intruders next year, yeah?

Reminders of you come in waves: the “yeahs” that pepper the ends of your sentences with upturned inflections, an addition that makes you sound Canadian, bright pink Benadryls hoarded in my desk drawers, sun-burn skin rashes, allergic reactions at three a.m. and emergency trips to 7/11, that one goofy hyena from The Lion King, you shrieking, baseball caps, beanies despite the weather, “Liability” by Lorde, “we should live far far away,” “I’ve tried to kick you out five times now,” “being on the verge of saying fuck it and asking for everything,” me shrieking, drunk statements, traditions born from accidental all-nighters, once a year, minty Burt’s Bees chapsticks lost in cup holders, coat pockets, squirrel in flight, my little flint, rocking back and forth, keychains laced, falling from your back pocket, my Lego still looped, little cricket feet, sitting stationed on my floor, between us, a foot, some feet, Milkshake the pillow pet, oversized pink fluffy slippers, grape jelly Uncrustables, and only a wee bit of commitment issues…

We both struggle with beginnings and find each other somewhere at the end. Here’s to not missing the middle again, yeah?

From someone who’s hopefully not a stranger next year,

M

P.S. Let’s make up for lost time.