Life hasn’t always been about arguing and dissing and
Breaking other’s hearts. It was once about sugar and butterflies and
Lemon gumdrops falling as rain. We’d stand in the field with our
Mouths open wide, hoping that our parents wouldn’t catch us before we found that elusive gumdrop
And when they did
We would smile at each other because we knew it was
Inevitable.

Life hasn’t always been about worst nightmares and shattered ambitions and
Broken dreams. It was once about hope for the future and
Dressing up in your mother’s old clothes. We’d creep into her room despite
Her constant threats and warnings and we’d pull out her red high heels
And her strings of pearls
And walk around the house
Pretending to be grown up. When we got bored of that we’d
Make the dog our victim.

Life hasn’t always been about cold glares when we meet and
Maliciously-placed knives in each others’ backs. It was once about ball games and sandcastles and
Lying on the white sandy beach. We’d just remain there for hours, watching the sunset
Holding hands. You’d tell me that you wanted to marry David and have fifteen children
And I’d tell you that I wanted to drive
An ice-cream truck named after you
So I could show the world that we were best friends
While spreading the gospel of ice-cream.

Life hasn’t always been about pent-up anger raging to come out and
Fake half-smiles behind a false façade. It was once about mutual love and understanding
And playing the trust game with anybody we could find. I’d lean as far forward as I could
Not worried or afraid that I would fall flat on my face
Because I knew
You would never let me get hurt. We had sworn on chocolate-chip cookies
And we pitied the poor souls that had made
Promises on chocolate-chip cookies and
Broken them.

Life was once a dream
Not this living nightmare
It was once just black and white
Not evanescent shades of grey.