To the Second Floor,

I will never forget the joy you brought me. I would run

and play

and dance

in your vacant halls with my best friend.

Do you remember her?

She would make me chase her

and play with her

and dance with her

in your dusty, empty classrooms.

Do you remember that one day?

Where she and I were painting the ancient bathroom stalls

and we chuckled at the tree she made

and our chuckles became cackles

echoing throughout the quiet.

She looked over to me, and in the flickering light

she looked like a colorfully-painted angel.

Do you remember what happened next?

When she dropped the bottle of green paint and paintbrush

and kissed me so passionately

I told her my watery eyes were from the laughter before.

I was speechless.

I was never kissed before that day.

You and her were the only ones that knew that.

You and her were the only ones that knew I had feelings for her.

I couldn't let anyone else know.

My fear rose like fire to my throat.

I stared at her blankly and shook my head

as I felt my watery eyes begin to leak. 

I ran to the roof till night came

and she never came back after that day.

I roam the deserted space on my own.

You never felt the same after that day.

I will never forget the anguish this brought me. I can only cry

and hide

and scream

on the bathroom floor

underneath that beautiful green tree. 

 

Goodbye forever Second Floor,

Daniella