Large Iced Latte With Two Sugars

By Alison Hallie Napp

Graphic by Isabella Mac Giolla Ri

I toss another collared shirt from a person I haven’t spoken to in a while onto

the tall, towering, nearly tipping pile.

It lands in a dull thump on top of haunted sweatshirts and sheets.

It is just one of many souvenirs,

collected over the years, like

trinkets and memories,

from the one hundred and a half people

who will never again touch me?

Staring at the soon-to-be clothing donation,

I feel,

the sensation of sentimentality creep around my corner

but before I demand the feeling to flee from me,

My partner opens up my front door with their key.

I hear, in their frosted hand, an iced coffee

exactly as I like it.

Kisses on my cheeks.

Gentle greetings.

So much sweetness just for me.

I find myself looking

away from the remnants of lesser loves as my nostalgia for

hard times excuse itself at the sight of my favorite face.

Smiling, I reach out and say, “Thank you,”

not just for the coffee.

With you, my love,

the old fades away,

making room for the new and wonderful.