The Perfect Pair
By
Janice Maldonado
We met in November of 2021.
We were in the same Instagram groupchat.
You lived in Vegas
and I, California.
The first thing I noticed about you was your
humor.
I didn't know you well,
but you made me laugh more than anyone else
ever could.
Your dumb jokes were the highlights of my day.
The first time I saw you,
you joined the chat´s group call.
The first time I heard you,
You simply said ¨yo.¨
At first, I didn't think anything of it.
But I soon found myself drifting towards you.
One day, a friend joked about us.
She said I´d fall for you.
I denied it;
I didn't know how much you'd mean to me.
That same night,
I dreamt of you.
The details are fuzzy,
but most importantly,
I saw you. I heard you. I felt you.
I was enamored.
I couldn't look at you the same after that.
I tried to hide it
though it was in vain.
Everyone knew I liked you.
Everyone except you.
We started calling each other
from the afternoon to night.
You were my first thought in the morning
and last when turning off my lights.
You posted a song on your story.
Looking Out for you by Joy Again.
¨This is a love song for a girl who will never
know it's about her¨
I thought it was for someone else.
(just like the song.)
February 2nd, 2021,
I turned 15.
You asked me if I had time to spare.
My heart skipped a beat because I already knew.
You told me ¨ The only words that can express
how I feel are ¨I love you.´¨
Like any other relationship,
we´ve had good days as well as bad.
But I hope you know
that I wouldn't change anything we´ve had.
March 31st, 2023,
I saw you in person for the first time.
We were at a park,
36°13´21.4¨N 115°12´03.9¨W to be exact.
My legs felt like jelly.
My hands, fidgeting.
When we made our way towards your car,
I almost knocked you off the curb.
(I´m still sorry about that.)
I handed you your late birthday present.
Love letters I've written over the years,
Matching accessories,
My heart shaped Rose quartz,
All embodying the love and care I have for you.
You put the gift bag in your car
and looked back at me.
You told me I was beautiful.
I felt beautiful.
We held hands for a brief moment
as you rubbed your thumb lightly along my
knuckles
I was smiling the entire three hour ride home.
I felt like I was dreaming again.
I saw you. I heard you. I felt you.
This time, I didn't wake up.