Let us play pretend.
Slip on plastic smiles and heartfelt laughter.
Pretend that you aren't leaving,
And that my heart isn't already breaking into a
million scattered pieces.
I will pretend like I do not hear
The voices telling me to get over you.
It was all a lie.
You, me, none of it was real.
You pretend they are wrong.
They must have misunderstood your intentions.
Even though every time I look,
I can no longer see you.
It does not hurt. I did not fall for you. I was not in love with you.
So I'd act like it.
I will act like I do not try hard not to,
walk too fast or laugh too loud just so I can
keep the pieces together.
Because one wrong step,
One unbidden memory,
And I'd be falling, falling to the floor,
Frantically picking up pieces of my self,
And gluing them back together.
Before anyone notices.
Shall we put on this show then?
Where I am enough for you.
Enough for you not to leave,
Enough a thing, to return to.
And while we're at it,
Let us extend the whole thing
Just a while longer, and
pretend that yet again,
I am not getting left behind.
Oluwatoyin