Featured in the 2016 Spring Issue of Rambunctious
soft Melissa Gao, '17 i the way every step was unintentionally gentle, as if the world was the most priceless porcelain and she an awkward giant traveling across it the way she floated languidly to each new destination, but with the purpose of the most determined leaf, holding on until early winter the way an unassuming smile always hovered at the corner of her lips, and could soothe even an earthquake into forgetting its course the way two hazel eyes embraced all with just one glance, even before a first word was said the way two innocent, delicate arches lifted her entire face when she first noticed me ii the way everything slid into place when our eyes met after the initial, inevitable dance the way her light words bounced around in my heart and warmed the black barriers into melting the way her eyelashes stroked her cheeks a flurry of fast flitting on that first night the way she shyly, slyly slid her sun-filled hand into mine the way four rosy ribbons clumsily collided together, feeling exploding, for the first time the way her shoulders reached for mine and they answered, leaning and learning the way there was no hesitation at the introduction of something tinged pink and wafted of uncertainty and enthusiasm, especially when she gave me three letters instead of two the way slender fingers carefully tucked pieces of perpetually uncooperative locks behind my ear the way her hands waved to every friendly speck of dust as words twirled out of her mouth toward me the way playing unbreakable notes were her selfless gift to me after a stormy day the way she always was the one to clean up the mess left by a muddy, unhappy pile of words lingering between us the way her spontaneous surprises never failed to raise the sun again, despite the start of its descent the way she joyfully changed "my" to "our" when she thought about home the way my soul sighed when her belongings finally mingled happily with mine the way her hair stretched out across my chest after a heart-pounding, heart-revealing night the way we yearned for each other's company like dandelions stretching towards the golden sun the way companionable silence filled the room as words lost meaning in the face of familiar intimacy the way our hearts slowly decided to beat together, forever iii I remember the way her eyes filtered in only warmth and light I remember the way sharp objects were incapable of forming in her mouth I remember the way her nose twitched at everything funny, including my bad jokes I remember the way she collected dirty, rusty rounds off grounds just to give a dirty, rusty peer a handful of chance and hope I remember the way she gave out "sorry" so easily and truly, even as others failed to give it back I remember the way her plans and mine met, dated, married and had babies planned for the future I remember the way her shining clock was shattered unapologetically by fate, without any notice I remember the way she gracefully lay across the center of that average gray road, bleeding out unfulfilled desires I remember the way my hurried footsteps getting closer, closer couldn't stop her from slipping out of my hands I remembered the way her still fingers turned snow-white, bare without the promise I had waiting at home