I’ll already be experiencing
so many emotions
being home
handling all that sunlight
preparing to burn
but there are those spots
on my shoulders I need to get checked
I will have convinced myself they’re cancer
before noon and I don’t want to think about that
in the sun and Kirk will start thinking of LA
because Miami reminds him of home
except here he fits in so well
and I stand out
white on white sand
and he’ll want to buy a ticket back there
or we’ll stay forever
get a job bartending on the beach
shaking daiquiris for retired ladies all afternoon
I’ll steal a car
end up in Publix
licking the floors out of gratitude.

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Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Keri Smith received her MFA from the New School in 2017. She continues to live in Brooklyn, New York where she works as a bartender. Her first book will be out soon on Hanging Loose Press.

Featured image from Pexels.