American Pie

A boy who never should have mattered.

Met by faith and a stupid joke.

We sat together because we had to.

He had a sense of humour, I had an easy laugh.

We became quick friends, 

Sharing stupid jokes and little giggles,

Telling each other silly facts and interesting quotes.

Eventually our daily activities were picked to suit one another,

Meals were shared together as well as laughs.

I was a feeder, he was an eater. I bought food and he ate it, he held me a little tighter each time after.

Then it came that things shifted a little. 

A shoulder bump turning into his arm around my shoulder before bashful blushes made us shove each other away.

A hand playfully grabbing turned into holding hands and rubbing gently.

Sprawling on top of him turns into my head on his lap, his hand in my hair.

But the last day came.

The day of the disco.

We laughed and smiled and danced together.

He promised himself to a friend for the slow dance.

I watched with a small smile, dancing with a friend instead.

Then Don McLean’s soft lilt of American Pie came on, the lights dimming,

We formed a circle, younger on outside, 

Those on their last year in the middle.

I watched as he had to go to the middle circle, as I went to the outer one. The song ended and I ran to him. 

The lights came on, the music off.

I sobbed and begged him not to leave,

Not to leave me.

I told him it was the best thing I’ve ever done

He gave me words of wisdom, I won’t ever forget.

“Then do you know what you do? You do it again next year, and the year after, and the year after that. Until you’re in my shoes. Then you give this speech to someone else, you give it to someone who matters to you” 

I don’t know if words ever spoke to me so much, he wrapped his arm around my waist and we hugged, my face hidden in his shoulder, 

to hide my tears.