Lessons

In 5th grade I slept with a girl

that is, in the same bed, eyes wide open

Thinking back to it,

I remember wanting to capture that moment

forever

In 7th grade, I met a girl in a coffee shop

she ordered a pumpkin spice latte

too hot to touch

I ordered a straight black coffee

guess we weren't meant to be

Looking back now it seems to me

that my body knew connections

before I, myself did

In 9th grade I built up walls

I promised only one person

could knock them down,

and I trembled at the sight

of those straight girls flipping their hair

brushing their hands to mine

Now I am content with myself,

knowing that one day

I'll meet someone in a coffee shop

and we'll smile proudly hand in hand

as we walk to bed