Take your sadness to lunch

Take your sadness to lunch
Take your sadness to lunch,
let it order some shrimp and some bitter truth.
Let it sulk across from you wearing that same old cardigan of regret and perfume of what if.
Let it speak about your mistakes.
Let it ramble about the past,
About the texts you never sent,
About the people who left.

Let it ramble about you,
About the versions of yourself you buried,
Let it say "Remember when" then stop it before it finishes.
Gently place your spoon down, smile and say, *l think I'm seeing other feelings now.*
Tell it, you met joy last weekend at the corner of Maybe Street and Healing Avenue.
Tell it you went dancing in Contentmen Crescent.
Tell it curiosity has been texting again and adventure might just come by for coffee.

Say, *it's not you, it's me, but also it's you*
Say l loved when you were honest but lately you have been dragging me into basements when l belong in Gardens.
Tell sadness you have danced with laughter under moonlight.
That Hope came by last Thursday with fresh flowers and warmer hands.
Tell it that peace makes fewer promises but always shows up early.

Let sadness take the hint.
Let it finish its drink.
Let it stand awkwardly and look you in the eyes,
Don't look back until it walks away.
Call the waiter, pay the bill then step out into the wind.
Let your skin bask in the sun, like the sun still wants you.
Walk home with lighter pockets, a straight spine and the number of a new emotion burning softly in your back pocket.
*Take your sadness to lunch and tell it you're seeing other feelings now*

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The End🎙️