“If you knew me in high school, no you didn’t.”

Excuse me, what did you just say?

You, who I have known since I was eleven years old;

you, longest friendship I have ever known;

you, me, forever and always is how it’s always gonna be—

excuse me?

“If you knew me in high school, no you didn’t.”

Excuse me, pardon me—

same scared little kid I have always known, afraid of your own shadow

and now you’ve forgotten that I was the one holding up the light, telling you to know yourself.

Excuse me?

“If you knew me in high school, no you didn’t.”

Excuse me, have you forgotten?

When you called me and told me to lock the closet door, I told you it was okay to come out;

when you called me and told me that you wanted to die, I held you together until you felt better;

when you introduced me to each new version of yourself I said hello, nice to meet you and I love you (and I love you).

Excuse me.

“If you knew me in high school, no you didn’t.”

I knew you when you didn’t know who ‘you’ was,

when you forgot who ‘you’ was, and when you remembered;

when you were alone, when you were afraid—

I knew you

and I know you

so excuse me—

If you knew me in high school,

no, you didn’t.