by Elsa Nichols

For someone with fleeting feelings,
A week should’ve brought some closure—
Or at least a couple answers—
To the questions swirling in my head.
But it didn’t, and I still miss you.
So I’m impatiently waiting until I don’t—
Or at least until I stop looking
At the photos of you with your bride.
Maybe I’m hoping exposure therapy
Will kick in, wipe the slate clean—
Purify me from your sins
That were never mine to carry.
Still, I struggle with the weight
Of secrets I was never meant to hold.

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Elsa Nichols (she/her) has enjoyed creative writing and poetry since she first discovered the written art form. After years away from writing, her creative tank has been refilled, and she’s once more returned to processing the world around her through written (or typed) words. Elsa is a native of Eastern North Carolina, and is often found seeking outlets to express herself creatively. She has also ventured into modeling, photography, and graphic design.