right friend wrong time

you were fireworks at midnight

lighting bonfires at 2 am

shooting stars just before twilight

everything i was looking for

at the wrong time

i wanted the thrill

but not the consequences of the crime

you were more than a friend

masquerading was your hobby

painting smiles where there were none

pulling rabbits out of hats

everyone was entranced by your confidence

a quick look behind the curtains

i saw the voice behind the projection

you were faking it

so was i

you said "fake it til you make it"

writing verses on the back of old receipts

using gum wrappers as bookmarks

we were runaway poets

maybe fame will never catch us

in our getaway car

with fake identities

trying to outrun our pasts

i thought i could change you

be your muse and your savior

but the wounds ran too deep

and my heart was fixated on someone else

maybe i owe you an apology

for leaving you in the dark

with only the stars to guide you home that night

maybe a part of me knew you'd find someone better

to heal and support you

because you deserve to be happy

just not with me

i hope you still fill the columns of books

with commentary about how stupid their decisions were

i hope the songs we used to play on repeat

still make you want to scream them off the highest rooftops

and mostly

i hope that when you go to publish a poem

you think about the bet we made

and how i've most definitely won