I’m quiet
shy and introverted
I don’t make friends easily
I have just one friend
my best friend
Devin
he has blond curly hair
always smiling
easy going
but somehow questioning
legs splayed
sitting on the sidewalk
outside his house
we talk for hours
about life
about God
about religion
about girls
I’m quiet
but not with Devin
Let’s go to Nathan’s
let’s build a raft
one time he
talked me into
riding my bike
all the way
to Fort Lauderdale
further than
I had ever been
miles and miles
leaving my block
was far for me
leaving my front door
was far
Fort Lauderdale
an adventure
I’ll never forget
I’ll also never forget
the call
his dad answered the phone
he’s gone
he shot himself
my mind
spinning
I didn’t know
what to say
I never
found out
what happened
I guess that’s strange
I just went back
back to being quiet
no more talks
no bike rides to Fort Lauderdale
no best friend
back
back to my block
back to my front door
Glen Alan Mitchell is a queer artist living in Miami, FL with his husband and four dogs. His poetry has appeared in The Daily Drunk and Tealight Press. Find him at glenalanmitchell.com Find him on Twitter @miamiglen
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