When you meet someone

so different from yourself,

in a good way,

you don't even have to kiss

to have fireworks go off.

It's like fireworks

in your heart

all the time.

I always wondered,

do opposites really attract?

Now I know for sure

they do.

I'd grown up

going to the library as often

as most people go

to the grocery store.

Jackson didn't need to read

about exciting people and places.

He went out

and found them,

or created excitement himself

if there wasn't any

to be found.

The things I like are

pretty simple.

Burning CDs around themes,

like Songs to Get Your Groove On and

Tunes to Fix a Broken Heart;

watching movies;

baking cookies;

and swimming.

It's like I was a garden salad with a light vinaigrette,

and Jackson was a platter of seafood Cajun pasta.

Alone, we were good.

Together, we were fantastic.

The Final Good-bye

Ashes

to

ashes.

Dust

to

dust.

I think

this is where

I'm supposed to say

good-bye.

Is that what

everyone's thinking?

Good-bye, Jackson?

Rest in peace?

That's not what I'm thinking.

I'm thinking,

I hate good-byes.

"Let us pray," the minister says.

Dear God,

What can I do?

He didn't deserve this.

Can't we bring him back?

Isn't there anything that will bring him back?

Please?

Amen

I look around.

If tears

could bring him back,

there'd be enough

to bring him back

a hundred times.

It's Not Fair

Mom takes my hand

and leads me back

to the car.

All I can think about

is how my boyfriend

will soon be

underground.

He'll be lying there

alone

in the dirt.

Mom asks me

if I want to go to the Montgomery house,

where people will gather<