By Natalie Ware, TIWP Student

I know I’ve said it 100 times in 100 different ways to nobody but myself but everything is different
And it’s so strange
I hate when people act like nothing happened
You are evidence that something did
I hate when people act like this is the age when everything starts
It feels like everything’s already ended
I’ve said that 100s of times to nobody but myself

I started hating everything about you
I tend to do that with people
I blind myself to their faults
And then blind myself to their strengths
I love to see people in black and white
It’s so much easier

I don’t feel guilty
Sometimes you try to make me
Because I’ve made you feel it enough
But I don’t
And I won’t forgive you

I remember that hoodie you got me
And how it was purple
Because that’s your favorite color
You wanted to name me violet
I’m so glad you didn’t
I don’t want to be named something just because of you
I’m not yours
But I was

I remember that hoodie
And the picture we took
With me smiling
And a hand around my shoulder
The hoodie said “i love u, mama”
But who’s that woman in the photo?
Because I don’t love her anymore