Souvenier

 

if i knew we had an expiry date,

i would have done

a lot of things

differently.

the hugs i used to give you

would've been longer.

the nights we spent

under the stars,

i would've counted the stars,

and added you

as a plus one,

just to see you be so overwhelmed,

it would make my world stop.

the late night conversations

would've been different,

because i wouldn't let you

go to bed,

just to hear you sync

your breaths over the phone,

a little longer.

all the times

i couldn't be with you,

because i was "too busy"

or "too sleepy" or "too angry"

at you,

i wouldn't have been

any of those things in the first place -

if i knew

our days were fixed.

if i knew that the last time

i heard you laugh

would be the last time,

i would have found a way

to keep it in the shoebox of things

that i have in my mind.

if i knew

that we had an expiry date,

i would've asked you

for a piece of your heart

to keep with me

as a souvenir,

and would've given you

a piece of mine too.