That summer, we traded hometowns

You had the bedroom full of sports trophies and medals that I always dreamed of

Mine’s 2000s parisian chic

All pink

I had lots of middle school art projects and third place plaques on the wall

I take you down the street to my favorite park

I let you push me on the spinning seat because I know you’ll stop when I get scared

There were so many playgrounds where no one wanted to play with me

But you play all my favorite games

We race on the monkey bars but my feet touch the ground now

We kiss at the top of the orange slide

You tell me: “Yah I guess I never had a real best friend”

But that was before

This time, when I fall into the woodchips I just laugh

Maybe I’m revising history but I don’t remember what I was so scared of

The merry-go-round turns the world blurry when we look up

When the sun sets, it’s our confessional

We turn away from each other when we talk about the future

I still say “when I grow up”

You said you’re scared of the day it’s no longer acceptable for us to go to playgrounds

But together we can be kids a little longer

Just this time, I’m stronger and good at running

Childhood never ends, I’ve decided

Time isn’t linear

And if history is all one story, 

it leads to you

Life moves in seasons that repeat and play back on each other like an old tape

I can feel this season recording over the last one 

The memories begin to blur

When I was a kid my brothers and I used to ride bikes, and throw oranges at each other

And if I turn around, you’re right behind me

Edited by Melissa Hernandez Gonzalez

Artist Statement: I wrote this piece about the first real best friend I had after countless seasons of my life where I thought people were only meant to stay temporarily. But I know he is here for many seasons and will be by my side whether I am blooming or falling apart. Meeting him was truly a rebirth for me and I feel like I got the chance to be a kid again, but this time I am stronger and have a best friend by my side. I wanted to capture that feeling and the sensation I have of present and past combining in this beautiful way and having the opportunity to rewrite my childhood.