Hello me, nice to meet you.

I remember preparing for the pain.
I reserved a hostel bed,
Took the train to Chicago,
And spent the weekend exploring an upscale neighborhood.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember when he left.
I filled the bathtub with bubbles,
Grabbed a glass of my favorite red wine,
And deeply inhaled a few hits of marijuana.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember keeping busy.
I went to an art festival,
Sat through a week of training for work while wanting to die,
And somehow became certified in something to do with technology.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember traveling.
I flew to Arizona,
Took pictures of Tucson and Sedona,
And thought I was going to die in another way when the plane hit turbulence.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember our anniversary.
I called another floater with similar sorrows,
Sat down for pizza and alcohol,
And declared the day our new Day of Singleness.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember texting his dad a Happy Father’s Day.
I left my hotel to walk to down to Navy Pier,
Took pictures from the top of the Ferris wheel,
And tried vodka snow cones while looking out at Lake Michigan.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember the Fourth of July.
I went camping in the Upper Peninsula,
Dented up my Honda Civic while driving on the dirt roads,
And put my feet in the freezing water of Lake Superior.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember telling myself I was ready to move on.
I called up a friend I used to know,
Met him for dinner,
And rolled around later in cuddles and f*cking.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember how the high of the fling crashed when he found out.
I begged for his love back,
Sobbed when he pushed away,
And then chased him some more a few more times.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember when I gave up.
I wrote him a letter,
Said my peace,
And walked away.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember when I started to notice myself.
I re-enrolled in school,
Set some goals,
And focused on my job again.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

I remember when I took my life back.
I breathed in a deep breath,
Let him go,
And wrote a poem.
Hello, me.
Nice to meet you.

~

Relephant Read:

All I need is This. 

How to Heal Your Heartbreak 

Author: Stacey Johnston

Volunteer Editor: Lindsay Carricarte/Editor: Katarina Tavčar

Image: Flickr/Quinn Dombrowski