remember
emma federico
Art, room 216 was our haven. It
Brought us together in that insecure time.
Crumbling beneath the masks we had always
Depended on, we told ourselves that it’d
End someday. We confided in one another,
Finding solace for the first time. I
Guided you through those toxic relationships and
Hellish days, reminding you that your appearance
Isn’t everything. It’s almost cliche, how we
Jumped together at ball and struggled to
Keep our composure on Graduation day. Remember
Laughing until our jaws ached? Remember how
Much we cried in those never-ending nights?
Now it’s harder than ever to speak,
Our conversations stifled behind the screens of
Phones. You said we grew up too
Quickly in June, the flickers of youth
Running from our grasps. All of the
Stories we made, both fiction and nonfiction
Take a place in my mind preserved
Underneath your name. All of the paper
Versions are gone, corrupted with time. I
Wonder if I’ll ever be able to
Express how much you mean to me.
You and I have bloodless kinship, safe
Zones that still linger. Do you remember?
Emma Federico is a freshman at the University at Albany. She is an English major and intends to minor in Creative Writing. She likes to read and learn different forms of writing. She also loves to explore stories and music in all kinds of genres. In the future, she hopes to continue to delve into different forms of art and enhance her writing skills.