Eighth Grade

By Preston Max Allen

Thumbnail

I remember being little kids

Running just a little too fast in the rain

You fell and you sprained your ankle

You didn't know what to do

So I just sat with you

'Til someone heard a shout

And then the eighth grade dance

I somehow got appendicitis

You stayed at the hospital

Until they kicked you out

I wonder where we went

Those girls who stuck together

How did we let time tear us apart?

Who are we now? How'd we get here?

Arе we too far gone? Do I want to know?

Do I let you go?

Or do I hold on?

Friеndships die all the time

Why does mine have to hurt?

Why does everything have to hurt somehow?

God, I have a headache 'cause I'm caring

I hate caring and I haven't cared for years

So why should I care now?

'Cause I try not to feel

And I'm thinking of rain, and of eighth grade

And hospitals, and times we were sure

But I thought I forgot, but I guess I did not

'Cause I'm looking at you, and I see what we were

Why'd it have to end?

Why does high school just destroy us?

How do two best friends not know who they are?

I know that I sometimes seem blind

To the past we knew

But now I'm afraid, sorry's far too late

And I'm losing you

Everyone sees someone horrible in me

But you saw differently

And you stayed by my side

So now, if I can do one thing for you

It's what I've got to do

For all those times you tried

But I stopped being worth defending

And your whole life became this game

I guess we're strangers now

But maybe yet somehow

We're still those girls in the rain

I thought I'd be fine with no one around me

Just me on my side, safer alone

Why is this here?

This creeping fear, why's it all I see?

And what do I do if I need you?

But you don't need me