Young Love

I.


I danced with her in elementary school.
Pulled her hair, and called her stupid.
This made her cry, and made her sad.
Isn't that love at that age?

II.


Middle School and things change.
Sex becomes a word you want to learn.
Dances are back, just more mature.
She remembers Elementary, and not fondly.

III.


Summer vacation before High School.
Fourth of July is spectacular.
She sneaks a kiss, and passes a note.
Isn't that love at that age?

IV.


High School is great, we are inseparable.
Our hands become one, as do our bodies.
Late one Sophomore party, it goes all they way.
She says it was perfect.

V.


End of Sophomore and of innocence.
Tells me she's late, and she's scarred.
I tell her that I'm here for her.
Isn't that love at that age?

VI.

Senior year, and the final year.
We pass like ships in the night.
After the operation, more died that night than expected.
We had been inseparable.

VII.

Summer Vacation before college.
The Fourth of July seems somewhat faded now.
She spies me, and walks away with another.
Isn't that love at that age?

VIII.


College is school, sports, and girls.
I discover needles are filled with memory killers.
I decided to partake.
Pain is no longer something I remember.

IX.


I find a woman who has some new stuff.
She reminds me of a girl I danced with.
We join each other in a drugged orgy.
Isn't that love at that age?

X.


I discover the woman was unclean.
The disease swims through my blood.
Memories come swirling back.
I remember Fourth of July.

XI.


The hospital lights are bright, and hurting.
My family is around me.
I see in the crowd a woman I used to know.
Isn't that love at that age?