Paper Wings

“Do you remember that one Halloween?

The trick-or-treaters stopped coming after nine

and I thought it was strange

because it had never happened before.

We walked down the dim street in our costumes

that weren’t really costumes, but we didn’t go up

to a single door to ring the bell.

It got too cold so we went back to my house

and watched Stranger Things on the projector

bundled under blankets, and I closed my eyes

at the first jump scare even though

I had seen it before.

Outside we could hear cars driving by too fast,

and the wind blowing too hard on the trees.

It knocked the projector down on us,

but we caught it and I remember

getting cookie dough ice cream stuck in my hair

and in between my fingers.

We never finished the episode because

it was Tuesday night

and we had school in the morning,

so I walked everyone to their cars and said

‘See you tomorrow.’

No? Well, I remember everything.

Hey, do you miss our old high school?

Its rough-around-the-edges charm?

The sad pep rallies and untimely morning announcements?

Because I do. I never thought I would.

But it’s because of the people.

It’s because of them—of you.

The friends who stayed in town when everyone else moved.

The people who parked beside my car every morning.

The ones that asked me questions and listened when I gave answers.

The soap dispensers were always empty,

the hallways smelled of weed,

and people were usually unfriendly,

but I had you guys.

When it was too cold outside and the projector fell,

I had you guys.”

-A.J