PARTINGISSUCHSWEET SORROWTHATIWILLSAY GOODNIGHTTILLITBEMORROW

By Irene Alonso Cassio '27

“Watch,” she said, “and learn.”

And so I did. I watched as her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks when she smiled. I watched as her red dress billowed around her legs I watched as it reflected on her skin, a constellation made of a thousand stories she had told and a million she was yet to tell I watched as she laughed a laugh that leapt from her mouth like a wild horse held captive all its life, leaping across an open field, leaping because it was alive, because it was free. I watched as the sun rose, and the flowers bloomed and turned into lush green leaves, and the squirrels ran down from the trees. I watched as the leaves fell from the branches, and the air turned cold, and the squirrels hid away, and the time turned still I watched as her eyes grew hurt, and her dress crumpled beneath the weight of the world As her laugh became feeble, and her smile faded As her patience shattered into snide remarks. As her heart became fake and unfeeling. As we shifted apart.

My nails dug into my palm as I stood on my balcony, my eyes drifting to the empty seat on the other side Soon the sun started to set, and I let its dying light splash across my face, washing away any memories of us I watched it too I watched its unfeeling rays, carrying on with their daily business like everyone else How can they carry on when it seems impossible for me? For us. I wonder if someone is stopping the sun from seeing the moon too. I wonder if they are forced to meet in secret. If when the night is dark the moon goes to see him If they are forced to look restlessly from side to side before they say, “I love you ” Maybe the moon is also forced to put on a cold, desolate facade How brave the sun must be, to keep shining so brightly even when the world seems cold and dark. What will I do without my sun?

No longer will I feel her crimson lips hover against mine. Nay, the only crimson I have now is that of the blood on my hands, the oh, so torturous blood that stains my fingers and mind and soul That filthy, poisoned being that now threatens to overtake me That grizzly monster that breeded into the death of my love Perhaps now it will breed again, but this time its victim will not be so innocent. Pain stabs at my heart like the unholy sword that began this whole disaster, but I know what I must do. I have crossed mountains, rivers, and valleys to take her as my lover, and if she is lost, we must be lost together. Hearts are like seagulls that long for another set of wings, like sweet roses that need to intertwine with another Parting knowing that we will meet again is such sweet sorrow, but parting for a lifetime is a burden I am unable to bear We have lived together, and we will die together, oh sun.

Oh, Juliet.