Punk 57

by Penelope Douglas

I learned a long time ago that you don’t need to reveal everything inside of you to the people around you. They like to judge, and I’m happier when they don’t.

Reap, reap, reap, you don’t even know, all you did suffer is what you did sow.

the flame spreads across the paper, eating every single word

The world isn’t always what’s right in front of you, you know? It’s below, it’s above, it’s out there somewhere.

Don’t change, Ryen wrote in a letter once. There’s no one like you, and I can’t love you if you stop being you.

I stare down at Ryen. “Are you wet now?” And I climb off her and out of the truck, shooting her a smirk. “Stay down.”

Anything to not need you, Anything to not fall for you, Anything to look at a girl who’s not you, But baby, there’s nothing but you.

I hold the paper in my lap and look down, unfolding it and reading it. I can’t wait to kiss you.

Just go. Don’t think. I wonder how many people who got prison sentences said the same thing when they committed their crimes.

who I am when I’m with him feels too good to sacrifice for the approval of everyone else.

it’s all plastic, and when I’m with him, I’m gold.

Misha, my best friend who got me into bed and fucked me with a lie.

“You want to be loved without risking consequence, so you reach out to get the attention you need while enjoying the luxury of taking no responsibility for those words.”

if they knew it was me, their reactions would be different.

“Life is fifty wrong turns down a bumpy road. All you can hope is that you end up somewhere nice.”

I want to move forward, not go back,