Two Peas in a Pod by Seungwoo Lee

We were two peas in a pod.

We grew up under the same roof.

We shared similar interests;

I used to storm into your room, only to see

baseball cards - mint condition - lined up in your drawer

I remember,

I used to stare at them for hours.

You told me that you’ll give them to me,

once I’m all grown up.

We were the indivisible atom of our household;

Our shadows stuck together when we walked.

We often went out in the warm weather

to play catchball.

Only a short distance dividing us;

each throw drew us closer, until we finally met

and found peace in our hearts.

Then,

life zoomed by, faster than the winter breeze.

You went off to a prestigious university.

Parties. Celebrations. Meetings.

Warm hugs and “congratulations” were now our way of greeting.

As you soared high, I was dragged down,

crushed by the weight on my shoulders.

I look down onto my textbook,

each page now entrapping me in its rigid, rectangular shape.

Sometimes, I stare into your empty room;

I see your barren desk, your forgotten posters, curved at the corners.

I see images of you & me, laughing and wrestling each other down to the floor

I wish that we could just go back;

back when people didn’t knew not to intervene;

back when people didn’t just hurl hurtful words and walk away;

back when people didn’t compare us, like we were some piece of clothing.

We were two peas in a pod.

I hope that never changes.