I come from worn-out, holy, grass-stained overalls
They’re so thin and
I’m “up to” the rail now
Someday I will be older than him,
I promise

I come from Tyler’s ideas
He threw the rope over the lowest branch
and tied both ends to
My purple bucket

“it’s ok, jump” he encouraged me “you’ll make it”

Nope.  I didn’t.

But, he was there to get me back on my feet

I come from Springview
Where we would walk home
every cool, crisp, new day

He’s like Jeremy, only better

Tyler isn’t like them
I come from the first day
Where Tyler showed me my classes
I’m only a freshman
He’s a junior!
But he’s not like them

I come from two weeks
Where there’s no attachment.
Deafening silence.
But then,
the longest hug
He’s still there

I come from deep, blue water
No air anywhere
I’m a million miles down
When!
I’m thrown into the cool air
Brilliant, bright white everywhere

I come from midnight texts on a school night
Electronic whispers
Fake coughs
Really, really bad fake coughs
He’s great