Play “The Tears I Keep” by HopelessChloromantic

  

  I slid off my sandals when I got back to the apartment, and already my pad went Ping! Grabbing a glass of water, I nestled into the sofa to catch up on Discord. Oh! It was a new DM.

  HC: Did you see the contest announcement?

  Ayela: I have no idea what you’re talking about

  HC: lol. Link to Purple Road Poetry Contest

  Ayela: A poetry contest? With a free year-long subscription to the Author’s Plus Benefits as a prize? Wait, you gotta write a poem every day for ten days?

  HC: yep. And there’s a prize every day, so ten winners

  Ayela: you write poetry, HC?

  HC: mostly songs, but they can pass, I think

  Ayela: that sounds wonderful. I’d love to hear one

  HC: Embedded voice memo The Tears I Keep

  I opened it, and it was him singing a cappella, but not the upbeat “I’m The Best” goofy song from before. Longing, wistful, soulful sound poured through my ear buds.

  There was no stopping it: my heart opened, and emotion streaked down my cheeks and dripped off my chin. God, oh gods above and hells below.

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  Your laughter haunts the open air,

  a song unfinished, a hollow prayer.

  I dream of your hand, the way it stayed,

  steady and sure when I was afraid.

  And though the ache won’t let me sleep,

  I feel your warmth in the tears I keep.

  I’ll hold that love, though I’m split in two.

  I’ll try to live, because you want me to.

  HC: You write poetry, Ayela? We could both enter in the contest. Encourage each other to keep going every day.

  I couldn’t type anything. I couldn’t see my screen.

  HC: Guess you’re busy. I’m going to enter. I hope you think about it.

  Ayela: I haven’t written poetry in a while. But I’ll think about it.

  HC: How old’s your last poem?

  Ayela: nearly a decade

  HC: Really? That long? No poems in Moons Dancing?

  Gods, was I going to talk about this?

  Ayela: The grief counselor recommended it.

  HC: how did it go?

  Ayela: lol. emo. teenager grieving her dead parents. kinda like the torture this song is.

  HC: wince. I wrote it because I couldn’t stop thinking about Harley. I’m getting ready for the inevitable.

  Ayela: it’s amazing, HC. And like a dagger through my soul

  HC: maybe you can write funny poems

  Ayela: LOL! That would be awesome. Okay, let’s do it. Poetry contest, here I come! Bring on the comedy!

  HC: Perfect! Here’s the link to the full song of “The Tears I Keep.” Link to Musicality

  Ayela: You’re a fucking bastard.

  HC: LOL. Not sorry

  Ayela: I kinda love you

  No wait, dammit, I cannot say that!!!!

  HC: I kinda love you too

  Ayela: What the fuck is this conversation?

  HC: LOL. The best

  Ayela: There’s something wrong with you

  HC: You have no idea

  Ayela: I’m going to kill you for this song

  HC: You’re welcome

  Ayela: AAAAHHHGGGG

  HC: RU turning into NightLover?

  Ayela: LOL! What in the hells is wrong with that one?

  HC: LMAO! I dunno. Maybe it’s a glitch in the code

  Ayela: Now that’s a thing to say about your friend, HC

  HC: I love NightLover too

  Ayela: You’re a softie

  HC: You finally figured me out

  Ayela: ??

  I closed Discord and headed over to the Purple Road Poetry Contest. Ten poems in ten days, eh? Well, it would be a challenge, and maybe that’s what I needed to boost my writing career. Something different and exciting. A goal.

  I chuckled to myself. A little comedy might be fun, and what was that HC had said about NightLover, our friend from the Flopper server who always just shouted “AAAAAAAAAAAAH?”

  Oh lord, that was funny shit. Maybe I could write a stupid poem about that. A glitch in the code! LOL. OMG. Priceless.

  Uh oh, Sam.

  Uuuuuuuuuuh. Ooooooooooh.