For Mckinley

You died
And my voice awoke

You died
and a voice inside of me
that I'd forgotten I'd forgotten
was nudged back into reality

A faint whispering existence
Apprehensive.
Unready to escape the unsure lips
of a body that unknowingly held it
trapped
and waiting.

You crossed your finish line
and in your stopping of time
reminded my core
that our innate connections go unspoken
Are broken.
Ignored fragments of memories
We've forgotten we've forgotten.

Memories of life-altering significance.
That we've conveniently tucked away
in the crevices of the monotony of reality.

You died
And I remembered to remember
that my voice will only be heard
if I acknowledge it. 
If I pick up a pen and blank pages
and  give it the time and space
to speak.