They didn’t wish for her
to appear, to come walking through the door
with an invitation, an event or thrill awaiting.
Even children, when they wish, know
to wish for something possible,
something with the flavor of
a reality.
She couldn’t arrive, she was already there;
unremarkable enough to be 6 of 7, or one
of the dark-haired girls. She took the part
they made for her, sang the words of their songs
sighed when they sighed at boys
and wore what they wore
Her 15-year old resume was rather weak
on accomplishments–
she was not extraordinary
like child-teens are inspired to be. She
was just of them.
They couldn’t have imagined
what would happen when she wasn’t there
any more than imagine the world continuing
without their individual selves
And yet, these things do happen
and something is always lost
even if it is only the thing that matters least
or most, as it was, when she was gone and no other
knew the thing to say, the way to go on
And so they were then, no longer