The Poet

3

Giana - 6:45 p.m.

It's coming upon my eighth month here in San Francisco, and I'm planning a surprise visit to see my family soon. My relationships have been flourishing at work over the last few months, and therapy is going well. I called my mom to check on her after my shift and was bombarded by my younger twin brothers. "Will you be visiting at least?" Tristan, one of my 14-year-old twin brothers, asks. "I mean, yeah, when I get a break from school, I'll try to get back out there to see you guys," I say, twiddling my fingers. I honestly didn't think anyone would miss me, given the state of my relationships with my family. My mom and I are close, but that's because we sort of grew up together. I considered her the sister I wish I sometimes had. My dad ghosted after my mom got pregnant with my brothers, and we've just been dealing with crazy family drama since then. "Okay, guys, let me have the phone now. It's girl talk time. Scoot!" My mom, Eliza, says to my brothers. She sits at the bar with her glass of wine, and before we get into anything crazy, we talk about school, work, and my day-to-day with therapy for about an hour or so. "Yeah, I mean, if I keep going every week, I should be good to go and back dancing in no time," I say, playing with some loose string on my bed. "Any new friends?" My mom asks. "Some cool kids in my class, I guess," I say, giggling a little knowing what she means. I was about to say something when I heard someone knocking on my door. I continue talking to my mom as I walk through my living room to my front door. I look out my peephole and see none other than Rafael and his friends. "Ugh! Go away! You were already here!" I yell through the door. "Who are you talking to?" My mom asks. "My neighbor," I say, looking at my phone as more knocks come. I slightly opened the door to see what he wanted. "Hey, mom, give me one sec," I say, sitting her on the table by the door. "Yes, Rafael? May I help you and your friends?" I ask, a bit annoyed. He looks, no, they all look a bit toasted at the moment. "Yeah, come party with us!" He says super loud. "I don't drink. Goodnight," I say, closing the door. "Please?? Come on, Cap! You're being lame!" He says through the door. "Is he cute?" My mom asks with a weird look on her face. Rafael and the gang walked through my front door as I was about to answer her. "You should lock your door, next time sweetheart." The tall, light-skinned man says, roaming into my kitchen. "Yeah, mami, any old stranger could walk up in here." Says the shorter Hispanic guy closing and locking my door. "Oh, thanks for the advice, stranger!"

I laugh as I watch Rafael walk over to sit next to me on the sofa. He lays his head in my lap and smiles up at me. "You remember my homies, Jason and Mario, right?" He asks. "Yes and ew. Get off," I say, pushing him off of me and onto the floor. Everyone was laughing hysterically at what had happened except Rafael. After grabbing snacks and drinks, the guys came and sat in the living room. "Who's that?" Jason asks. "Uh-uh, nosey. It's my mom Eliza. Eliza, say hi to everyone!"

I say. "Hi everyone! Nice meeting you all!" She says while drinking her wine. "Damn yo. Your mom is bad as fuck." Mario says, biting his lip. I threw a pillow at him and walked to my room as they all laughed. "Well, baby love, call me tomorrow, okay?" My mom says. "Okay. I love you! Kiss the boys for me, please!!" I say, blowing kisses and hanging up. I walk back out to the living room and see the guys throwing snacks up, trying to catch them in their mouths. Kids. "Anyone down to play music?" I ask, and Jason, the tall friend, hooks his phone up to the Bluetooth and plays this really dope song. "Yo, this is Rafa's new song. Let that play." He says, pressing play and turning the volume up.

We listened to this song called Regulators, and I realized it's the song I heard the night he insulted my height. Not gonna lie. It's pretty freaking fire. Everyone is into it and loving it, so we run through some more songs while we smoke and chill. All of them are amazing, honestly, and it kind of makes me wonder. "Why aren't you huge yet?" I ask. "I'm known I just have other causes that I fight for to bring music and life to the community," Rafael says. "Facts. My man Raf over here has been using his acting money to do big things out here on the west coast!" Mario says, dapping Rafael up. "Like what?"

I ask, truly intrigued. "I teach the youth about the power of their voices. I host workshops for aspiring artists, and when I say artists, I mean any form of art, not just music. I also use some of the proceeds from anything I make or am a part of, and I help fund the art programs in outreach centers and other after-school programs around the area to keep the city going." When he finished, I was genuinely and visibly stunned. "What?" He laughed. "I didn't realize you were so involved," I say, sitting on the sofa next to him. "I mean, why not? I was born and raised in the Bay, so why not start helping my community the best way I can?" He says, looking at me. It felt like he was looking into my soul when he looked at me. It felt like he was trying to read me from the deepest parts of myself. "Ahhhh shit! They're gonna kiss!" Mario says, snapping us out of whatever trance we were in. "Bro?! Chill!" Rafael says, throwing a pillow at him. I get up and get some water from the fridge and lean against the counter. What is going on with me? I'm too high right now, man.

For his mouth never uttered a word
Yet his eyes told me all I needed to know.
When he did use his mouth to speak
Her body said more than intended.
Once her body said its peace
They transcended in ways no being could understand
Through time and space
Their hearts will race
At the pace
Of love

I turn to see Rafael leaning against the wall staring at me with a small smile on his face. "That's nice. Did you come up with that just now?" He asked, grabbing something else to drink. "Yeah. You like?" I say, smiling back. "I mean you aight." He says, laughing. "Oh, right, because you can do better?" I say, laughing. He rubs his chin, smirking, "I might do a little something." I wave at him to go ahead as he gives me another once-over before he starts.

Sometimes even I forget that there's more to women
More to show
More that wants to grow
More that could be
Sometimes I have to remind myself that they need more
More to love
More than love
More and above
I often sit and contemplate how much they need
Want
Feel
It's like I have to see it to acknowledge it
Touch it
Touch with
Touch, them
They're more than just a body
A voice
Sex
She is the celestial being that I begged the universe for
She, the mind, body, and soul like I've never seen before
She is THE
And I am HE
Maybe she and I can coexist and be three