Memory

The thing about a memory
Is you only have your half.
Someone else’s version could be
Something completely different.
Or something forgotten.

 
Their laughter, because of something
Simple you couldn’t grasp, still
Echoes around your mind.
And even though it came at your expense,
The sound remains clear and sweet.

 
Their words, delivered when you
Needed them most, are still etched on your
heart. Available to be replayed whenever
You need them. As close to you
As your fingertips.

 
Their smile, showing above the crowd,
Encouraging you to keep going, to
Keep trying, now only remains
As a shadow, trying to stay vivid
In a faded, disappearing light.

 
But questions haunt and long for
their answers. What do they think?
What pieces of the puzzle can they
Put together? Or are you crazy,
For keeping it all so familiar?

 
But there’s another side that
Haunts and bothers, if you put
Yourself in their shoes. What do they
Remember, what do they hold on to,
That you don’t?