Your name spills over into conversations and I go silent. I stopped fighting that long ago. I hold your laughter in one hand and pieces of memories in the other and let go freely. I heard the only time you drive into town is to say hello to people who became strangers. You brag about the life you wanted and no one is there to listen. I let your banter carry on with the wind and ignore every call. What makes a person good? Is it effort? I wonder if you claim to be less shitty just because you swear to yourself that you don’t know any better. I hope you grow something worth watering in that garden you built. I hope every fixation is met with a result. I hope you realize how peacefully your absence echos. -AMT©️