Victoria Rose

by Ella Barstowe

This day won’t last forever

And tomorrow’s almost here
So drink three cups of water,
Some Gatorade for electrolytes
And chamomile for emphasis,
Two aspirin for the pain,
And a firm pinch on the arm
Or a cut
To remind you that you’re still real
And you’re still you
And you still remember
How you got this far.

But you accidentally remember too much

And your monsters come back
To attack from all sides
And mine do too,
Since the call is sounded.
But this time,
This time we know
What we didn’t know before
And we fight with all weapons drawn
Until our monsters subside
And we realize
We’re still here sitting together,
Gasping for air,
Throats tightening
Around the stories of our pasts
As they try to escape
Mixed with tears.

With tears in your voice,

Your hair in your hands,
Your lips curl into an arc
As they sip
On the chamomile we prescribed,
And then
You stop drinking,
Tell your last secret,
Hiccup,
And announce that you’re going to bed.