The Five of Us

It was a glorious morning, voices of children— screaming, laughing, running free. Us, in our classroom, the five of us. We stood around our tables, talking together, laughing together— pure joy. We walked through the hallways, swinging our connected hands, all smiles. I gave her a ring— a goodbye, a hug, don’t forget me. Sad smiles. Us, in our classroom, the four of us. We stood around our tables, talking together, smiling together. Echoes of her. Half smiles. We walked through the hallways, holding hands. She gave me a glare— a goodbye, a sigh, don’t talk to me. Cold eyes. Us, in our classroom, the three of us. Talking together, gossip of her. Hollow eyes. We walked through the hallways. They held hands. Fake smiles. Them, in our classroom, the two of them. Talking together, laughing together— so bright. They walked through the hallways, swinging their connected hands, so sweet. They gave me a look— a wave, a smile, come along. Fake. Hollow eyes. Me, not in our classroom. One of me. Two of them. Three of them. Four of them. They stood around our tables, talking together, laughing together— forgetting me. I gave them a goodbye, a wave, a smile. Uh-huh. Averting eyes. I walked out the hallways, swinging hands— no smile. It was a glorious morning, voices of children— screaming, laughing, running free. Us, no longer in our classroom, the five of us— forgotten. ~M.Sora