It was only a summer love,
yet it left behind a thousand “what ifs.”
The season faded long ago,
but the memories never did.
I thought I had more time,
more time to ask you why,
more time to stand in your presence,
more time before goodbye.
Foolish me, believing in tomorrow,
when all we had was borrowed air,
you said, “I’m leaving in May,”
then laughed it off “August, don’t you care?”
But in that pause between your words,
I think you already knew,
time was slipping through our fingers,
even if you pretended it wasn’t true.
And I was a coward in disguise,
building futures in my head,
all those “next times” I kept saving,
all the things I never said.
I should’ve asked for your shirt,
just to keep your scent with me,
I should’ve asked you every question,
instead of letting silence speak for me.
Now I turn my head in empty streets,
when that familiar perfume stays behind,
or when I see a seashell glinting,
your laugh rewinds my mind.
You with your shell necklace,
me thinking you were just a friend,
but we had something brief and real
I thought it wouldn’t end.
We had our moments,
but they were too fragile to hold,
and I keep living in the echo
of a story I never told.
I really thought I had tomorrow,
but tomorrow never came to stay
just you,
Slowly leaving anyway
Written by: Ee Shuen
