Most momentos were shed
when we split assets,
pots and pans,
dish towels and bath towels,
the tables.
Who gets the air conditioner
and the Purple mattress?
I shredded every card,
every note,
all words gone.
I saved a few pieces of you
for our son,
photos of you two together,
and the cassette of your
music performances,
the song you wrote.
I kept copies of your family recipes.
The apple bundt cake will always be
your grandma’s love,
something I had never received
from my own family.
We were a terrible couple,
but damn we are amazing exes
and parents to the most spectacular kid.
Thank you for being there,
and thank you for showing our son
such a great way to treat his mother
despite how it all worked out.
I’m happy for all of us.
-Melissa Donley