The Real You

“My soul feels twisted around, making me
wonder if my heart ever really knew you.”

I thought I knew you like I knew myself. Like my soul is entwined with yours in a cosmic knot. I thought I could read your face like my favorite book. The one with the worn edges, coffee and tear stains. The one I always have handy. But these days, the language and syntax have changed to something I don’t recognize. Even my soul feels twisted around, making me wonder if my heart ever really knew you. The real you. And what hurts the most is that I’m afraid with each passing day that everything was a lie.

© Sarah Doughty
2018

I can’t help but wonder
if my language changed,
or my ability to understand the words.

Unfortunately, some friends
can turn into something
we don’t recognize.