The Memory of Puzzle

Memory of Puzzle

She smiled.

My heart jumped.

"Jule, go home"

She shocked me.

She often did.

But I did go home.

I wish I hadn't.

The first time

She shocked me,

I was three.

She helped me with homework.

The second time,

I was five.

She did the dishes,

Then climbed up to the roof.

She always was full

Of pleasant surprises

But little did I know

That the next was the last.

I went

Back to the boating place.

They were still there.

She was crying.

"Please,

Hurt me.

Not Julian."

She coughed out blood.

I ran to her.

They stepped aside.

"Any last thoughts?"

They laughed, cruelly.

I was desperate.

I said,

"What?"

"What did you do?"

"Jules,"

Her voice.

A whisper

In the silence.

"No."

Now I whispered.

The others left,

Their laugh ringing in the air.

"No.."

My voice was barely heard.

"Save it, Jules."

She laughed and coughed.

"They sped up

The painful process."

What?

I ask myself.

"My mother and father

Told me.

I have been bleeding."

Now she scared me.

"I have been slowly bleeding

On the inside."

Her breaths were now rasps,

Small and shallow.

I now understood.

"Please,"

I was terrified.

My heart heard inside.

"What?"

She laughed.

"Julian,

Is your tongue tied?"

"I..."

I was speechless.

She looked like she was going

To pass out.

Her face:

Serious

"Seriously, Jules,

One question."

I was shocked.

This was the first time

That she had seemed

Truly sick.

"Yes,"

I said.

"I wish to know

Your name."

She laughed,

All to dry.

"Truly,

Is that what you seek?"

"Yes,"

I thought,

This was

What I yearned.

"Really, Julian,"

She spoke,

Every word

A huge effort.

"Jules,

This is it.

Don't tell anyone.

I'm Puzzle."

She went limp,

All too soon.

I already missed

Her laugh, her smile.

I gave her

The funeral she wanted,

A party

With ribbons and balloons.

I think I saw

Why no one-

Ever-

Knew her name.

It's harder

To forget them

If you

Knew it.