dusk

GEZELLIGHEID

we trudged cautiously
through the snow-laden
field, leaving footprints
and memories behind us,
not even daring to take a
glance back, afraid that if
we had, we would go
running back to the
place where friendships
bloom in the warmest
summer and fires of
romance burn between
the sheets of ethereal winter.

we ventured into leafless
forest, frozen springs, and
empty roads that lead to
nowhere. our feet sweat
inside our ugg boots that
we claimed we would never
wear but still wore it anyway.
we held hands, oh so tightly,
so we would never have to
spend a second without the
other, to wrap ourselves in
a moment of ephemeral
nostalgia. even for a short while.

our laughter rang out into the
air, the sound chimed across
the faraway mountains behind
the fog. we swam in the freezing
lake, not a thread on our skin,
but past the hypothermia and
shivering bodies, we felt euphoric
and alive. we drowned each other
in childhood memories and two
bottles of vodkas. we drank until
the ground swayed under our
feet. until we couldn't stop smiling.
until our laughing tears ran out.
until the sun hid behind mountains.
until the lights appeared in the sky.

we cried as we recalled the
broken hearts we had
throughout yesteryear. we
lent each other's shoulders
as the dew from our eyes
seeped into the comfy fabric
of our winter jackets. at our
feet, our stories had grown
into tiny buds that sprang
out from harsh winter soil.
here, we buried our memories
that will last forevermore.

黄昏時