Had I known you were my last I would have –
could have loved you more.  I depended on you
to keep me going.  As a girl, you were tardy –
All the other little girls had begun their cycle –
not me.  Oh how I missed you then before I
even knew you.  What were these pains they
spoke of – need for an aspirin – a heated
water bottle.

It was another way I was different.
Another weirdness of me.

And when you came (finally) with the pain –
I knew we would be ok.  I knew you would
strengthen me – take me down – for a few
days of cramps and sighs and aspirin – the
warm water – soothed like other little girls.

I became one of them.

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