And that is when
the dam breaks
beside me
under the weight of it all—
the books,
the hordes of unlined-up papers,
the pens and pencils,
the weeks’ lunch bags,
the gym clothes—
all come falling out,
cascading into the hall
like a waterfall.
Why now?
Just when I was about
to get away.
Just one second later,
I would’ve been
on my way to class.
The bell warns.
My feet pull me toward the hall,
can’t be late to class again,
but this grind in my chest
makes me know
I need to stay.
I sneak a look at her.
kneeling on the floor,
sweeping the contents
of her locker
into a dusty pile.
I get down too,
on both knees,
and start
just pulling the pieces
back together
book by book.
58