The past
met the present,
and it was good,
the kind of good
you wonder
why it was the past.

It was surprising,
but boy,
was it exciting.

It was familiar.
It was easy.
It was comfortable.
And I let it play out.

I was the actor
the director,
and the producer.
Played all three roles,
ignoring the voices in my head
telling me
there’s a reason
it was the past.

I took the notes
and listened,
but did not hear.
I wrote the script
and acted
some scenes out.

It seemed like
the end I had waited for
was near.
But I’ve lost my lines
and I can’t continue.

I noticed changes,
both good and bad.
I know time does that
to everything.

But there are changes
I don’t like,
can’t accept,
and won’t pretend
to play out.

I know you want me to,
but I’m not waiting for you.

There’s a reason
the curtain fell.
This story
no longer needs a stage.

Mariam Shittu

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