“As lost as I get, I will find you... Always" ― Adrian Phoenix

One kiss between us
So many years ago,
A single, heartfelt goodbye
To something that scarcely had
A hello.
We were the best of friends,
Inseparable buddies,
Our own clique
In a school full of cliques;
Yet
I never realized the depth,
The truth, of my feelings,
Until I saw you off
At the Greyhound station
On your way
To boot camp
And eventually,
To war.
As your bus boarded,
We held each other
So tightly,
My face buried
Against your chest,
Your face
In my hair,
And as we pulled away,
Our eyes met
As truth settled within
Our hearts.
Gently, so gently,
Your fingers touched
My cheek and
Wiped away my tears, then
Their tips brushed my lips
Moments before
Your lips replaced them.
“Wait for me,” you whispered,
And I could only nod while
You backed away,
Lifted your duffle,
And disappeared up
The bus steps.
Years passed.
News of and from you
Came less and less often,
But still I waited
Despite the advisements
Of family and friends.
I knew you would be back
Someday.
Somehow, I knew,
We would find each other
Again.
In the end
It was I who
Found you,
Gaunt, unshaven,
Dressed in layers
Of rags,
As you sat alone
In the shelter
Where I volunteered.
I should not have recognized you
Yet I did,
But when you looked at me
I saw only hell
Looking back at me.
Tears filled your eyes
Just as they filled mine
As I sank onto the chair
Beside you.
We didn't touch,
Somehow I knew
You wouldn't welcome it,
But we were closer than
We had been in years.
“Where have you been?”
I asked and you sadly smiled,
“Lost. So lost.”
Not anymore, I thought to myself,
And for precious minutes we talked
Before you stood to leave.
“I am here every day,” I told you,
Daring to touch your arm,
“Always waiting for you.”
You spent long moments
Looking into my eyes
Before you nodded
And slipped a battered
Cap that read “War Veteran”
Around an unfurled flag
On your head.
“Watch for me,” you whispered
Before walking away
And disappearing
Into the crowd of others,
Men, women, and children,
Who were also lost
And hungry.
My heart ached
Even as it flew;
You'd found your way back to me,
And I'd found my way to your side
You would return here
And I'd be waiting
Because I knew that some day,
Some how,
All would be well
Between us.

c. 2023