The ringing of the bell, unleash us to the wild that is the playground
That glorious, monotonous tone right after lunch may very well be my favorite sound
A daily hour so fleeting, little do we know it will be burned in our memories eternally
Building up the courage to ask if I want to come over after school as you fidget nervously
It feels as though the hours we have to spend loom so largely in front of our eyes
Adults spew their foreign language at us as they claim how the time flies
Please forget your jacket at my house so you can come back later in life to grab it
Sooner rather than later, on the off chance I cast myself to the island of misfits
We can pull the leaves off of dandelions, playing "he loves me, he loves me not"
Then hide them behind our backs before we get embarrassingly caught
Pinky promise me that we'll be friends forever and keep each other safe from the time thief
Thank goodness we'll always be this way, we both say as we sigh in relief
Meet me where I am always and you'll always find my outstretched hand
Oh I'm sorry to have missed you last night, life's become busy - you understand?
It's quite odd, I know - I never used to have such an intense exterior
Protecting myself from the dangers of the jungle have made my kind heart much wearier
From afar, I must admit, I could hardly even tell it was you
But while you're at it, tell your new friends that they don't know you like I do
I could recognize your laugh in a crowded room even if I hadn't heard it in years
I know your brother's birthday like you know all my biggest fears
My mom said she'll keep the porch light on for you - just in case
Even if the memory of the sound of your voice is something I'm beginning to misplace
For old times sake, remind me the name of your current crush
You can borrow my mascara if I can borrow your blush
I've got some PTO coming up, would you like to plan a trip if you've got days to spare?
I'd suggest a flight to the past, but when I visited before, no one was still there
Tell me, was I always this harsh - if you can remember how I used to be
These days, I'm beginning to wonder if I've foolishly tricked everyone into loving me
I'd knit the sweater of fate myself if you could just remind me of my favorite color
Perhaps before we call on birthdays next year, during the awkward conversation through which we stutter
I forget the details of our adventures and now they feel more like dreams
But if they were, I'd know your current address and you'd know mine, then we'd meet somewhere in between
You said you'd follow me anywhere so long as I stay standing next to you
But that patch of grass got worn down until only weeds grew
Does your dad still swear there's a mark where I used to my park my car in your yard -
Sorry, I'd forgotten they moved, did they happen to send this year's Christmas card?
Let's take the bus home together and share stories along the way
And I'll remind you with my unwavering optimism that everything is going to turn out okay
I wonder, do you still use any of my old phrases though I'm no longer around?
Will I always love this book because you once told me I'd find the ending so profound?
Share with me a secret - am I worth the messes I so often make?
It feels like now I leave so much smoke and fire unintentionally in my wake
I tried the key at your door, but I don't think the lock is the same
Was hoping the world view through our childhood lenses was something we could reclaim
I'll never forget how you love mint chocolate chips or gel pens
Even if we are never in the same room ever again
So I'll leave flowers on your old doorstep in hopes you'll return home with a vase
And you'll keep my old number saved in your phone forever, just in case
Though the world is so cold, remind me of when I promised to be warm instead
Until the tenderness in me becomes something I can spread
And when we meet in the next life, surely we'll know -
Then we'll link arm in arm on a laugh we'll never outgrow