Purple Affairs

Reece Maguire Class of 2024

I tried a cigarette today. Not sure If I’ll ever try another, though. The smell clung to my sweater and stiffened my hair tears stung my eyes, my body wracked with coughs I was so sure you’d laugh but you just smiled with your teeth.

The two of us in the back of your car windows rolled down, your hair flowing like geraniums. The click of your lighter sounded over Black Marble You gave up asking me a long time ago, but this time I reached over and plucked one out of the cardboard. Your blackberry and rose went nicely with nicotine.

A cigarette always dangled from your purple lips, MAC or Maybelline, I never could remember, but always Marlboro. Camels made you sick. No one else could do it like you. I grew to tolerate it, you were funnier than most people I knew And I knew we’d be the best of mates.

You’d been smoking since you turned thirteen, Mama warned me about people like you, nothing but trouble It repulsed me the first time I saw you do it. The underside of your eyes shone with amethyst Smoke swirled around you; a halo from hell. A trick of the light, I’m sure, but how could I resist?

The small stick felt foreign between my fingertips I half-expected a force to knock it from my hands, but God never showed. I couldn’t explain why I did it My day had been going pretty swell but then again There’s never a cloud in my lavender sky when you’re around I just knew it would bring us closer.

The next day someone else was riding shotgun

Their feet propped up on your dash

Country music blaring from the speakers. You gave away your lighter, Now I hate the color red It would begin and end all too fast.

I held the Taco Bell bag, you cried over a nobody. Your hands shook as you puffed Fingernails painted plum. Your love’s too precious; tanzanite in a sea of agate. I know I’ve been a little bit off, and I just can’t explain it I hate that son of a bitch.