this infection

August 18th marked seventeen years
since my first stay in hospital.
It's always been my biggest fear

that I'd somehow forget it all.
The months, they passed. The seasons changed.
Before I knew it, it was fall

and time was funny. Time was strange.
I only hoped that I'd fit in,
that I could learn to play the game

that I could wear a hollow grin
and fit in with the patients here.
But I was odd and I was thin.

I swear to god, I was sincere.
I saved so many souvenirs.