To All The Friends I've Loved Before: 06

Late nights and fire pits, the Drake after dark. This city I’ll always call home.

To All The Friends I’ve Loved Before is a collection of unsaid promises to the people who have meant the most. The friends I’ve lost, the relationships I’ve ruined, the unspoken words between two people who never had a chance.

Photo by Kevin Oetiker on Unsplash

I fell in love in movies, TV shows, and films I didn’t know. In bands I didn’t recognize and venues I called home. Late nights and fire pits, the Drake after dark. This city I’ll always call home.

There’s so much possibility here, but the timing is all wrong. The leaves, the trees, the way my body screams for you. You can’t force these things. Says who? You can’t make something of this. Oh, but look what I have.

You’re right about one thing, though. Sitting there atop the cliffs at sunset, the whole city skyline stretched out in front of us. You can never quite plan for these things, never really get it right. Still, we do our best. Fill our time with long walks to mediocre ice cream, streetcars, and pull lines and cookies to write home about. Do you need a ride? I’d rather walk. Miles and miles in a day. You squeeze my hand. Remind me. It’s not the right time.

But I like this band, and I like this day, and I like it all with you.

Golden leaves and biting cold, it was over too quickly and then—planes and islands and ten-hour days, I really don’t mind. Long lines, Burger King, I swear they’re just a friend—meandering walks and the smell of smoke, there’s nothing I won’t try once. At least, when it comes to you.

and me

and us.

Beaver Tails, bike rides, locket bridge, have you been here before? Freshly baked bread, pastries in my hand, this is my favorite place to be. New shoes. Blisters. Macarons at midnight. It’s all coming to an end.

I close my eyes, and see.

Aquarium

And carnivals

And railways

And you 

Packed car, goodbyes aren’t forever, lies are such a beautiful thing. Lakeshore, sunrise, they don’t have a clue. Rearview, stadium, hey isn’t this that song you like? Quick, turn the volume up, we’re about to lose it all. City lights, downtown, fading into you.

and me

and us.

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