Melon

So here’s the stitch

A curly haired brunette olive skin big eyed poetess  Fifteen years old Fingertips slap her laptop keyboard in the corner Friends with all my friends but not friends with me We giggle with different people during golden hour Both treading water until the day we learn to swim Fish who are smart but also can’t swim

I leave fourteen times two days never having had a conversation with my soul sister I heard her read and slam and watched her post on Instagram but I never knew one day I’d get attached to a stuffed animal cow and visit College Park, Maryland twice in one year like "where is College Park, Maryland?" by British friends asked

You know one is your soul sister when you see your soul in theirs. You see your soul in their words, their poems, their phrases in conversation When they correct your mispronunciations of a language that is your own yet more theirs that yours When their skin glows like yours and their neck wears a choker like yours and their throat down a twenty-dollar shot of patron like yours and their body stands strong upside down like yours

My soul sister has the brightest white nail polish But she’d share her soul with you before she ever shared her bright while nail polish She loves deeply but most importantly the right way Meets people in the middle and beyond

My soul sister is more than just the background on my WhatsApp but the “I’m always here for you” over WhatsApp and now she’s moving to New Zealand, so we love WhatsApp for us

Melon, you are both sweet and sour  A perfect fruit salad but also my green beans  One day I will teach you how to swim so you can enjoy the crystal-clear water of the many beaches, lakes, and rivers you’re about to have at your fingertips Just know you breathe life into ydubs and your students, the counselors, a-team and even the ants adore you It’s safe to say we’re all addicted to your presence And there’s nothing we want more than for you to find your bliss in New Zealand