Forever

We ran together first
Hung out at practice
Me the only girl
Amongst your group of guys
You made me laugh
I kept you out of trouble
On the days I nearly ran without you
You called me over, wondered why
And I always gave in
To run at your side

Over sports we clashed and meshed
Little tussles over the yellow and purple
But comrades under the red and white
Finally you came to a game with me
We ate, laughed and joked
Watching our elders dance like chickens
I was perfectly comfortable
In ways I hadn’t been in this city before

Forever friends

At the game of rivals
Things started to change
You commanded me to work with you
Like a friend
But when I arrived
Even I sensed something different

You hugged me often,
Touched my hands, my arms, my waist
And the next day
When we had to race
You were there, at every point
Loudest to cheer me on
First to congratulate me
I enjoyed the attention
How you always put a smile on my face

We started to do things
By ourselves
Fewer friends, away from athletics
Casual at first, lunch, the newest movie
We moved slowly, content at the time
This was a level I knew
The limit of my comfort

When we took that step
And you led to the claustrophobic unknown
I knew then
Knew that time
Or, as it would be, distance
Would not matter for us
Winter would pass
Already looming
Spring would send us in opposite directions
Summer would allow us sweet moments
But fall would send us away

But still you led me on
Baby step at a time
Never rushed
Never hurried
You understood my fears
And I knew your needs
No matter the distance
That time, I knew

Forever lovers