the good news is you’re going to get out
the bad news is you’ll do it alone
the girl who smells like strawberries and hope?
she tries, she really does
the next time you see her she’ll be in a casket
and for once her hair will be neat
and her wrists will be carefully hidden beneath her sleeves
they play amazing grace at the service
and you’ll frown because she hated that song
you always thought she’d be the one to leave
the boy with the crooked teeth and the too-big smile?
he stays
you’ll see him again,
at her funeral
he’s got a wife now,
and you’ll pretend not to see the way he stiffens at her touch
or the way he stares at the old barber’s son
this town has no room for people like him
this girl with the dark lipstick and sharp teeth?
she’s right where she belongs
she’s got her hands around another pretty boy’s throat
whispering dangerous things in his ear while her nails draw blood
she’s always known how to survive here
you won’t see her again,
but she’s there
standing under the willow tree
watching them lower strawberry girl into the ground
she has nothing left, now
she turns and leaves, and that night she pretends that drunk boys with big eyes and clumsy hands are enough to make her forget
but later she’ll stumble to the bar
and stay there til sunrise
the boy with the shaky hands and brilliant mind?
he’s never going to make it
that’s what they always say, and somewhere along the line he starts believing it
he shows up at the end of the last song,
grease-stained and sweaty
he works at his father’s repair shop, now,
and just like his father he smells of cigarettes,
motor oil and cheap beer
he’s everything he never wanted to become
you wont ask him to come with you, this time
you already know the answer, and it’s far too late anyways
you’ll get out
but you’ll do it alone
say your goodbyes and don’t look back
mutter a prayer for the ones who stayed then keep on walking
forgive, forgive, forget
this town is a black hole and you’re just past the event horizon
keep walking
this town will swallow you whole if you let it
– r.a.b.
prguitarman
2087
discoholicmusic
origamiaround
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
