Inseparable Siblings

A story of love and loss — submission for The Lark competition — a runner-up in the competition

Once inseparable siblings years between us felt like days

Shielded me from family injuries filled in for a mother who chased a father watched TV every night sang R&B songs to bootleg cassettes

Once indivisible now individual cells existing in isolated bodies

It happened on her wedding day a vision in a mermaid gown floating down the aisle enveloped in jewels and joy

The end of the night, the music dies a hurried kiss and hug the silk of her sleeve latches onto mine perfume idling on my cheek lipstick smears tears reveal cracks in the foundation

an orphan left at the altar

Sobbed in the desolate back seat loss of a childhood and best friend returned to a house, not a home an empty room from in living color to a static screen

Threw myself onto her bed a hard pillow stuffed with grief fell asleep to a song on repeat

Boys to Men It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday