mmm-hmm…

close your eyes, it never happened.

⸻

You lit incense in a soda can,

said the scent reminded you of ‘back then.’

The stereo skipped to a burned-out track—

we let it play like a nervous laugh.

Pulled your hoodie over tired thoughts,

borrowed feelings from a high school plot.

Said you liked when the world looked fake,

like it owed us more than we ever gave.

⸻

Hands just missed in passing—

we were postcards in reverse.

You whispered something half-sincere

and smiled like it hurt.

⸻

You and I, strawberry incense,

burning down the afternoon.

Caught in pixelated glances,

orbiting another tune.

We never said it clearly,

but we played it like a truth—

Just enough distortion

to pretend it wasn’t you.

⸻

Someone’s lawn still had plastic chairs,

ghosts of parties that forgot who cared.

You traced shapes in a fogged-up screen,

asked if anyone feels anything.

Our reflection wore a younger face

in that tinted sliding glass.

We laughed at how the suburbs

always turn forever into past.

⸻

You and I, strawberry incense,

hiding in fluorescent haze.

Flickered like a dying playlist—

then rewound in stranger ways.

We never said it clearly,

but we played it like a truth—

Just enough distortion

to pretend it wasn’t you.

⸻

⸻

“The tape hissed. You blinked.

Somebody’s dog barked twice.

We were there—but not really.”

“…Not really… not really…”

⸻

You and I, strawberry incense,

fading from each other’s view.

Shared a secret we forgot

as soon as we pushed through.

We never said it clearly,

but it echoes like a truth—

Some soft, suburban reverie

that almost felt like youth.

⸻

almost felt…

almost felt…

like youth…