Growing up

We used to be friends
sit on park benches
sharing strawberry jam sandwiches
juice boxes and a packet of Twisties
we used to be friends
laugh, until our sides hurt
our cheeks were sore
until we couldn’t even remember why we were laughing
we used to be friends
and push each other in the back, until we thought we’d fly off the swings
screaming, legs flinging
desperately trying to touch the sky
until dinner time and we knew we were late and would run home
hoping to sneak in the back door without our mother’s noticing
we used to be friends
and hang out at each others houses
until our mother’s would shoo us out
to get some air—
some exercise
some sun
some anything
just to be out of their hair
we used to be friends
until one day we noticed boys
namely, the same boy
at first we didn’t admit it to each other
thought he’d be interested in the other
until that vile green
thing—
feeling
grew inside each of us
and grew until we couldn’t look each other in the eye
until we couldn’t bear to be in the same room as each other
until the sound of your name being called would make
that green vile thing turn red and angry
and huge
we used to be friends
until we decided we could no longer stand each other
we used to be friends
until we grew up