Forget the rest

By Annabella Theodore Lyn Palmacci

my memories have been, stolen

all that remains are tattered pictures, 

pasted, over the peeling paint of my mind

an overflowing cereal bowl

leaking milk over the side,

as mickey mouse scrambles to hide

my memory flickers with fuzz

like our old tv buzzing and buzzing

in the background 

of late-night fights

my memory is muted

like my screams

through the palm plastered over my mouth

don't disturb mom

she's sleeping

she worked the night shift 

my memory

is manic like my 7-year-old breaths

slowly escaping 

scolded for leaking emotions like cereal milk

it's not so bad 

everyone hides like mickey mouse

i know he's mad

he says my name like a slur 

as he marches up the hardwood steps

my memory is matted

like my dirty blond hair 

and the scribbles in the corner of my homework

discarded 

with the trash

my memory is sweet

liker her smile

her lovely,

warm, smile

i can learn to smile

And forget the rest

Art by Isabel Peters