A reminder of a boy i once liked—
He used to slip me love letters before class,
Sketched in shaky handwriting,
Decorated with crayons I had once given him.
At the bottom, two ducks floated side by side.
Back then, I thought it was the sweetest thing.
Now I roll my eyes and smile—
How silly it seems.

He picked wildflowers,
From the schoolyard fence,
Told me they were as pretty as me,
And tucked them into my hair
My cheeks burned hotter
Than the blazing afternoon sun.

At night, I would stay up  too late,
Texting him on my old flip phone,
Pretending to snore
Whenever my parent peeked in.
I swear my heart was pounding louder
Than the phone's plastic keypad.

Back then,
I swore he was the only boy
Who could ever exist in my world—
A match made in heaven, I thought.
Though low-key,
I was too shy to say it out loud.