They leave behind their underwear. I’ve got yellows and waistbands. I’ve got stains and rips
They leave behind sores and un’apologized sexually transmitted diseases. Some let you know before entering; some feel the need to leave this on your skin like permanent shadows
They leave behind concert tickets and blown out eardrums and broken down umbrellas with detached wings and a shirt still stained with their overpriced scent
They leave behind recipes from family tree or internet databases and a tiny jar housing their favorite spice on your shelf and a jar of unmarked, unused ingredients from that time dinner was supposed to occur
They leave behind words promises lies secrets absolutions contemplations all that hair clogging drains and webbed in corner of bathroom and on pillowcase and remember that time you pulled their hair out of your your
They leave behind photographs and luggage tags and luggage and postcards and paintings and books and poems and poems and poems and poems and poems
They leave ghosts of rust on finger from that ring purchased alongside peaches or plums from New Jersey flea market
They leave behind that scar on your wrist from
They leave behind
They leave
Aimee Herman 
Once more Aimee herman puts into memorable words what everyone has experienced and, if they are lucky, will experience again and again and again during their lifetime. Heartbreaks… Relationships that do not, pass the test of time… Loses both real and imagined… Set backs that test our will to move on.
There is good that can come from every life experience. As long as we fight our feelings of the moment and move on we can expect better days ahead.
The Pennsylvania Dutch have a saying… “We grow too soon old and too late smart”
Because there is an Aimee Herman we can see the value of stopping from time to time – as long as the stop is just for a moment – to better understand that eventually we all do get smart.
Beautiful, You are a wise soul Aimee, thanks for sharing with us!