How To Solve A Riddle

By Tanvi Hegade

she was

sitting by the window sill

A turquoise riddle

the streak of mad hatter

orange only visible if you looked

at her from where I stood

soaking in the morning sun

in all her glory

A turquoise-gold puzzle,

i'd seen glimpses of her

earlier

turning round the corner at the baker's

her full laughter at the back of the train I took that year I was eight

the rhythm of her footsteps so distinct

as she walked to my bench after playing catch

& smiled.

over the years

we've become familiar,

friends, even

chasing each other through the park,

reading my favourite passages to her,

all the tickling until our stomachs hurt from all the laughter,

lying next to her beneath the stars

until

i realised

that

two riddles had been unraveling

side by side

all along.

By Tanvi Hegade