i saw you again

i saw you again today.

you walked right by me.
your eyes accidentally ran into mine, like a hand brushing against another, and i think it shocked us both. it had been so long.

and i had to look up at you.

it had never been that way before.
it was always us, looking right into each other's eyes, cocky grins on our faces.

you opened my juice box with your pocket knife
we pedaled our bikes in circles around each other, howling into summer.
i ran into you at the top of the stairs
and for one second, we were both breathing so hard
smiling the same old smile
and i swear i thought it would never change.

i saw you again today.

and maybe you didn't care.
maybe it was easier to just keep going. to just look past me, to the next face, wishing this town wasn't so small.
because you got tall. and i grew into my smile.
and if our younger hearts could look at us now, they would laugh at the way we have grown apart.

but maybe you went home, and you sat on your bed, and you wondered if i forgot.
i didn't. i didn't forget any of it.

i never do.

and when i see you
out there on the street
i always turn around to watch you go.

because part of me still misses you.
maybe it always will.

xx