Romance, decomposing

It was the era of the dirty jokes
Of the sweaty palms and the jittery nerves
Of the giggles and the chases and the awkward birthday gifts

I remember falling asleep, smile on my lips,
Your name on my phone, and the faded taste of a Jolly Rancher
In my mouth; you were a choking hazard

And I’d wake up in the morning and call you
I’m real sorry, I fell asleep, and you’d say
That’s ok, I did too

I remember, once, we were at the park,
Lying on a blanket, eating this cheese that you had dragged me with you to buy
It was gross, but I ate it anyway because you were so excited over cheese

I remember that day I got stung on the foot by a bee
And it swelled and turned purple and I cried; I realized I was allergic
I was so embarrassed, and you said shhhh and you pushed
My hair out of my eyes and said it was ok

You lifted me up and you carried me all the way home
Even though we were the same height and it probably
Killed you; you were romantic sometimes

And once, we went for a walk
I think we were going to the movies, and I had a lollipop
I didn’t like the taste, who makes a banana lollipop?, so I went to throw it out
And you told me not to waste it, and you put it in your mouth

I laughed while you sucked on it and made dumb faces
And then you said you’re right, this is gross
And you threw it on the ground, and I watched
As it shattered into a thousand yellow pieces

It was the era of uncomfortable silences
Of the time you tried to kiss me in the theater
And you missed; the time we went to a cooking class
And you spent the whole time throwing bean sprouts down my shirt
Where they sat, damp and uncomfortable, because
I didn’t want to reach my hand down to pull them out

And we fought, in those days
You told me my friends were ruining our relationship, that high school
Romances never last, I said ours could

But you were right, I guess
Because I called you that day from the football game and I said why aren’t you
Here; and you sounded funny and said you couldn’t come and I said ok and sat
With my friends

And then I got home and there was a text flickering on my phone
And I smiled and opened it and read it and there were hardly any lines there
Just a quote,
Sometimes it lasts in love, and sometimes it hurts instead
And the words, I’m sorry