Portrait of a Friend

Waking up five minutes before she has to leave
Wearing what she slept in so she doesn’t have to get dressed
Her hair, the strangest combination of blonde and black,
            tied back in a half ponytail to hide its oiliness
Somewhat overweight, and so conscious of it
“I’m pretty much disgusting.”

She says the strangest things
Sometimes the most obvious, sometimes not even on the same subject
Doesn’t know when to shut up
“I’m pretty much the stupidest person you’ll ever meet.
            I’ll just shoot myself in the face.”

She’ll dress up nicely for a few days, trying to impress her latest crush
So happy when he says he’ll call
So upset when he doesn’t, like so many before
“Why do I do these things to myself?”

Carisa Anderson