Thirteen Hours To You by Annie Emerson

For seventeen years I’d lived in Adalita, Pennsylvania,
a town that took pleasure in my torment
and refused to leave me as anything but broken. ⠀⠀⠀
Four months ago, I left. ⠀⠀⠀
I’d driven thirteen hours to Everlee Falls, ⠀⠀⠀
Georgia, to live with my Gamma for senior year.
I’d moved to give myself the chance to fall in love
with a life that I’d missed out on for far too long.⠀⠀⠀
I’d expected to find hope, ⠀⠀⠀
I’d hoped to find freedom, ⠀⠀⠀
but I’d never expected him.⠀⠀⠀
I was too damaged to recognize the beginning.⠀⠀⠀
But all it took was a moment,
and he was positive he’d invade every one of mine. ⠀⠀⠀
If I pushed, he pulled. If I ran, he followed.⠀⠀⠀
I was his fate.⠀⠀⠀
Meekai was my north star.⠀⠀⠀
I was what he chose to remember.⠀⠀⠀
He was a goodbye my soul refused to forget.⠀⠀⠀
*Trigger Warning: Please be warned,
this duet includes scenes of sexual assault
and sensitive subject matter.⠀⠀⠀⠀