November Wounds

Cristian Dunn

I was so happy

When you called me your friend

Not knowing the cost 

God knows how many times

I scrolled back to those typed words

Like how Akita dogs wait for their

Owners at the train station. I didn’t

Know it would be four months' worth 

Of stops before I knew

Maybe I was stupid trying to know

You because you apologized for losing 

My flashlight. I’m sorry for thinking of 

taking out the battery powering me.

I was just a fifteen-year-old boy scared of 

Flickering out. And you were only two months

Shy of drinking whiskey. All we knew was how to 

Wait. By luck or miracle, the light stayed on

No one told me the cost of shining

Would expose my darkness.

And no, you never mentioned it. I heard it from a voicemail

Why did it have to be you?

And the worst part was I couldn’t hate you for it

How could I be mad at that scar taking a falling log for me?

I knew you had to hurt me. Seven routes passed since then 

I wonder how many more it’ll be till our next exit.