Alternatives For "Goodbye"

By Nix Carlson

Ciao / take care / see you later / drive safe / make sure you don’t enjoy the cheers when you tap dance tonight / I’m serious / no fun / anyway, I’ll talk to you after / 

Wait, what do you mean? / Shit / You’re serious? / I don’t understand, two months ago you said you love my friendship / yes, I know you don’t remember, blackout drunk spilling the depths of your guts and mind onto the pavement / I know / but last month you said you loved me / I know it was only an undressing as long as my clothes were on your floor / but still / it was honest for the second when you said you were terrified / yes, you’re an amazing actor, but a shitty liar / you have a tic, it’s in your neck / and anyway, you listed off your best friends last week / I made the cut / fuck off / fuck you / 

No, it’s fine / I’m cool / 

It’s not like you’re my people / or like ‘friend’ / is more cherished than / ‘lover’ / honestly, I hope you turn numb and freeze to death in a pile of snow in mid-July / shit / no, please don’t / I’m sorry / don’t make me go to your funeral, they’d need a second casket and i couldn’t upstage a musical theatre tenor / 

Can we just stop / just for a minute? / No goodbyes, okay? / I need you / please / I’m not above begging, you know that / tell me you’ll see me later / please 

                   Just don’t say goodbye.

By Nix Carlson