She called him her cherry
because of his bright cheeks-



and he called her his daylily






(she wasn't sure why,



but she liked it)




He was patient and protective



and liked the way her socks never matched






and the way she ate muffins (upside-down)







She was impatient and prideful






but she liked the way he read (eyebrows furrowed furiously)



and his squinting, laughing eyes.

They were always having small fights
and once she heard her pride say-
"I'll never talk to you again."



she never thought his eyes could look so sad



when he slowly nodded at her
she wanted to scream.

Her life continued as years passed
and she met a boy she grew to love



but who never quite understood



why she ate muffins the way she did.

One day, as she was packing



preparing to move across the country
she found a dried, wilted daylily



and she cried herself to sleep that night, hating herself






wondering if he ever felt the same of cherries.