A Hug Goodbye

I was five. I hugged him goodbye and kissed his cheek.

I was ten. He smelled of cigarettes and alcohol. I hugged him and kissed his cheek.

I was fourteen. He hugged me for what felt like forever. Then he stuck his tongue in my mouth.

“Won’t you give your grandpa a kiss?”

“Not like that”

He stood up and we left.

My mom came.
I hugged him goodbye.

And my body has been screaming since.

The linger of his touch.

The way I was used.

The taste of his mouth.

But I hugged him goodbye.

Reviews

[sette]

the twist in the poem is somewhat unique. nice piece of writing.