Tayla Vannelli
I tried to eat a cookie that day
Do you remember that?
They were peanut butter
Mediocre ones from the store
It was the first solid food I had eaten
Since my wisdom teeth had been yanked
You had only just met me
I said, “Hi person I don’t know”
As you walked through the door
You seemed startled that I’d address you
I didn’t know that I was interrupting
Your own ideas on how to say hello
You found an open seat next to mine
I pretended to be too busy to notice
I was catching up with Marcy, you see
To be honest, I was well aware
But to keep my heart from fluttering
I fixed my eyes on my friend
Remember that cookie I tried to eat?
Well, I broke it piece by piece
The crumbs were falling
My swollen cheeks forgot how to chew
You had no idea I’d had surgery
I guess you thought I ate like that normally
You asked me questions about my plans
I had to tell you I was leaving soon
I’m always going somewhere
I kept my heart in check
Because the last thing I wanted was
Another person who didn’t like my goodbyes
I thought there was every reason for you to
Forget me the moment you left the room
I was leaving for Georgia and
I couldn’t even eat a cookie
Guess you liked my swollen smile
Since you pursued me the next day