Calosha Gomes

I sat across from my worst nightmare, and she spoke with words like maybes and howevers. I don’t remember your face; all I remember is how you spoke. Teaching me how not to speak with anyone for the remainder of my life. Teaching me how not to treat people for the remainder of my life.

This year has taught me how to care with fewer words, with no maybes and howevers. I’ll be caring better for whoever I go to next. I’ll be better off with no maybes and howevers, for whoever I go to next.

You might think I’ll not be going after my ten-year-old dream. Oh, your delusional maybe and however—I’m absolutely going after my ten-year-old dream. And this time, I am better for it.

Your unprompted maybe and however—keep them to yourself. I don’t need them. Adiós in Spanish and goodbye in English. Well, slán in Gaelic, if none of the above makes much sense to you.