Every Time I See You 
by Juliana Phillips '18

I never really loved you
Well, I don't think, at least
But now it doesn't matter because
Love is such a beast.
It swooped down like a soaring hawk
And tried to cut me down
But now I don't even need to worry since I see that she's in town.
I liked you for some years, loved you for two seconds
But now my clock has up and left
Since time doesn't favor peasants.
I can't believe you wrote it
I can't believe I dismissed it
But when one says they love someone,
You stop for just a minute
Especially when that someone
Says it for you and all eyes pivot.
I knew they'd be watching,
I didn't want the glares,
I knew they'd say I told you so,
So I held back no fear.
I let it all go
The words, the letter, yourself
I thought that I was taking charge
But really I hurt your heart.
Now I had moved on
One girl against the world
But then I saw your picture,
It was with some other girl.
Something inside me snapped
I feel a piece of me died
And it was not just my anger rid
But my selfishness, my pride.
I wish things could be different,
I wish I could hate her
But she is a good friend of mine
And hating will do no good, sir.
I think I missed my chance
I'm sure I missed the goal
And now every breath I breathe
Feels too heavy to throw.
I want to be happy for you,
And a good friend I shall be
It's just every time I see you together
I think I lose a piece of me.