Ya know what I miss?

written by minuki m.
photos by lenox s.
graphic design by nicole m.

The summer days in early middle school that

felt endless, ethereal.



Where I’d come over and

we’d just lay on

your bed or out

in your backyard on the blue sofa.

Do absolutely nothing but

be,

exist,

talk, about the most random things.



For those evenings were when we

were truly just children.

And maybe nothing was really okay, and

maybe my cheeks would be tear-stained most other nights

battles in our head, turmoil in our lives,

but for my hours with you, I could rest.

What else is friendship, but a nest?



Phineas would purr delicate meows,

the grass was greenest here.



My mouth tasted of:

frosting with sprinkles from cake pops,

and empty Coca Cola bottles,

and messily destroyed chocolate cakes

(eaten straight from the pan with the candles still melting)

and brownies with burnt edges,

and glasses of milk in the short glass with the dark blue rim

(before we both realized we were lactose intolerant)

and freezer pops when school let out,

and Sonic shakes

(when you were old enough to drive, but I was awful at it)



I remember every birthday party from 12 to

however old we are now.

Olive garden to Chilis to ramen under fairy lights,

both of our guttural, but joyful, tummy aches

because even if everything hurt to eat - at least we were together.



If I could bottle those feelings up - I feel it’d be like glass jars of golden honey,

and I’d stir those bottles into my tea everyday.



Memories of those

slow days and simple feelings,

feel so truly and purely

like happiness.



Memories with you

feel like a scrapbook of what joy is.

I love being your friend,

thank you.